Peckfield Landfill Site

Overview

Introduction to Peckfield Landfill Site

This page has been created to provide further information around our regulation work at Peckfield Landfill Site, Micklefield, operated by Caird Peckfield Limited (CPL). We are aware of the ongoing landfill gas odours currently being experienced by residents of Micklefield and surrounding villages and appreciate that this must be a frustrating and unpleasant situation.

Update 5 December 2024

Since the last update (30th October 2024), work to complete the capping has continued and we can now confirm that the site is fully capped.

We acknowledge that some residents continue to be affected by odour, however, the improvements on site appear to be working as the number of reports received by the Environment Agency have decreased significantly since September compared to earlier in the year.

Work to repair the leachate wells is ongoing and you may still experience odour during these works. The odour releases will be from smaller discrete locations on site and will likely cause localised areas of off-site odour. These releases are unavoidable as the leachate wells will need to be disconnected from the gas collection system in order to complete these essential works. The operator and their contractor have measures in place to minimise the time wells are emitting odours and these will be implemented throughout the duration of the repair works. The operator has indicated that the leachate well repair works will continue into 2025.

Soils will continue to be imported for restoration into 2025 until the levels in the planning permission are achieved. Our regulatory work both on and off-site will continue to monitor progress at the site and assess compliance with the environmental permit.

Update 30 October 2024

The final area of capping has now been completed and the operator is moving on to the next phase of the closure process. Contractors will be onsite from Monday 4 November 2024 for approximately 2 weeks to carry out maintenance of the leachate management system. Measures will be in place to minimise odour during the maintenance works but there is an increased risk local residents will experience off site odours until the works are completed.

Soils continue to be imported onto site to be deposited above the cap. This layer will be seeded in the new year in accordance with planning requirements. We continue to maintain a regular presence on site and monitor work to ensure it is to the required standard.

Update 17 September 2024

Since the last update, work to complete the installation of the capping membrane above the waste has continued. There are approximately 200 square metres of capping geomembrane left to be installed. This is an area slightly smaller in size to a standard tennis court. It is anticipated that the geomembrane cap installation will be completed by the end of September 2024, weather permitting. Our officers have been present on site during this work and are confident the work has been undertaken to the required standard.

Repairs to the gas and leachate wells will also continue beyond the completion of the capping. We have met with the operator and the third-party landfill gas management company to discuss the need for additional assessment of whether the gas extraction is being optimised. We have been assured that additional extraction infrastructure will be installed, if necessary, but that this work can only take place when there is a suitable depth of soil in the areas to allow safe access. Without this, the risk of gas emissions increases as the cap can become damaged. The amount of collected gas has started to increase over the past few weeks as the capping has progressed. This will lead to a reduction in off-site odours.

Lorries bringing soils into the site will continue beyond the completion of the capping work to complete the restoration layer. This will certainly run into 2025 and possibly longer depending on the availability of soils acceptable for use under the permit requirements.

You may continue to experience off-site odours, but as the work is progressed this should begin to be less frequent and of lower intensity. Our officers will continue to inspect the site frequently and push the operator to complete the required work as quickly as possible.

Update 19 August 2024

On 8 August 2024 Caird Peckfield operatives reported a small surface fire during a routine inspection. The fire was around a gas well which was not in use at the time. The fire was extinguished and the gas well was saturated with water in accordance with established site practices. This was completed to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency.

The area around the borehole will be excavated and the gas well sealed. The work will be completed during normal operating hours and completed within the day. During the work there may be increased gas emissions that could lead to odours off site.

Environment Agency officers are monitoring this area during ongoing site inspections and will continue to do so until the gas well is sealed and investigations are complete . Site inspections continue regularly throughout each week.

Update 30 July 2024

Significant Environment Agency staff resources continue to be used to regulate the landfill site and manage the public correspondence generated. We understand what a frustrating situation this is for local residents and hope that this update provides some further information around what is currently happening at the site.

What is happening on site?

Throughout July, the Operator, Caird Peckfield Limited (CPL), has started to re-lay sections of the engineered capping that we identified as defective. Those areas requiring the remediation are on the top of the site and the flank facing The Crescent. Sections of as-yet uncapped waste will also be capped as part of the ongoing works. The cap plays an important role in containing odours. The work involves cutting out sections of the plastic, which will expose the waste underneath. Suitable soils will be placed on top of the waste before new plastic capping is placed above this. All the biodegradable waste previously exposed to the air is now covered with a soil layer. The cap is then placed and welded on top of this to seal the site, followed by the placement of more soils as part of the lower levels of the final restoration layer.

To speed up the progress of the works, we asked CPL to increase their working hours to remediate the site, so you may see staff working outside of normal hours, including Saturdays. You may also see increased vehicle activity as plant used in the engineering works is moved to the areas being worked on.

We have specialist officers on site most days checking the work is completed to the required standard. Our role is to ensure the operator is installing infrastructure that is fit for purpose and will protect the environment and residents into the future. The operator is responsible for checking the infrastructure is performing as designed and to repair where it is not.

Works are also being undertaken by CPL to replace defective pumps in some leachate wells, and to seal any leaks identified that are emitting gas.

We are also working closely with the gas contractor in relation to the gas extraction system that generates electricity. As soon as areas are capped, these will be made accessible for the additional works needed on the gas extraction system. These are to identify leaks and ensure gas is being extracted efficiently. Additional gas wells may need to be installed to adequately cover all sections of the site. An assessment of this is currently taking place. We are aware that work to clear the build-up of liquid in above ground gas pipelines is ongoing to ensure the flow of gas generated in the waste is collected as designed.

Why is this happening?

Our Regulatory Officers identified a number of deficiencies during inspections.

What to expect

As the work involves activities within areas where landfill gas is generated, certain parts of the gas extraction (suction) system must be turned off or disconnected for health and safety reasons. Areas where the gas extraction is not operating are sources for the escape of gas, and therefore odour. Therefore, until all the works are finished, you should expect odours to be emitted.

Please note that the timescales for this work cannot be accurately defined. The work is dependent on the availability of suitable soils, and the weather. Capping works cannot progress when the conditions are wet and, following wet weather, soils need to dry out before they can be used.

Update on our enforcement action

The deadlines in the enforcement notice reported in previous updates have expired and there are still ongoing non-compliances with the environmental permit conditions. As a result, we are continuing our investigations and considering enforcement action in accordance with our Enforcement and Sanctions Policy. We are not currently able to expand on the detail surrounding these investigations.

We have issued two information notices in the last few months relating to the capping (issued to CPL) process and landfill gas management (issued to Flexitricity Ltd, the 3rd party landfill gas contractor). We decided to issue these after identifying gaps in the documentation relating to these matters. This information is needed for us to comprehensively assess whether CPL is undertaking the work adequately or whether the processes in place need reviewing and amending. One of the information notices was partially complied with (CPL), the other fully complied with (Flexitricity). We are considering next steps in relation to the partially complied information notice.

We continually review our options for requiring CPL to make improvements under enforcement notices. However, this option is not always open to us due to the way the current legislation is written, or where the issuing of a notice would not be achievable. There are numerous aspects we must consider when issuing a notice, such as whether the deadlines are achievable. Issuing a notice with deadlines for undertaking permanent capping works is problematic with respect to the impact of the weather and other unforeseen delays. If an operator falls foul of a notice because we have failed to be fair in our approach, this can undermine our future regulation and enforcement processes.

Reporting to us

We would encourage all residents affected by the odour to report this via our reporting hotline 0800 807060. Accurate, reliable, and timely reports are crucial in helping us to assess the ongoing impact the landfill is having, and we thank those who take the time to do this.

Please continue to report any odour and distinguish between the different types of odour if possible. If waste odours are experienced outside of normal working hours for the site, please include this detail.

We also have a dedicated email address you can contact us on – please email micklefield@environment-agency.gov.uk .

Note on landfills

Peckfield landfill site accepted waste that decomposes and produces gas and liquids. Landfill sites collect and burn the gas to produce electricity and collect the liquids for onward disposal or treatment.

Landfills contain the waste, gas and liquids by constructing networks of pipes and wells and installing a protective cap over the top. Peckfield landfill does not currently have all the containment systems in place and functioning correctly, and this is why you are smelling the gas in your homes and gardens.

Update 1 July 2024

Recent inspection reports (Compliance Assessment Reports/ CAR forms) have been added to the 'related files' section below. Latest CAR form

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) assessment

The Environment Agency have carried out spot checks using a handheld Jerome air monitor at the Peckfield Landfill site boundary and in the communities of Micklefield, Garforth and Kippax over six days between 6^th and 29^th April 2024 (6^th, 8^th, 16^th, 17^th, 25^th and 29^th April 2024). These readings highlight the potential for the hydrogen sulphide levels to exceed the World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guideline for odour annoyance. However, current levels (as of 29th April 2024) are far below those associated with harm to health.

Some people may experience physical symptoms, such as nausea, headaches or dizziness, as a reaction to strong odours, even when the substances that cause those odours are not at concentrations that are directly harmful to health.

Some residents’ symptoms may be as a result of their reaction to particular odours. The human nose is very sensitive, and there are many things that have a very strong smell, even at concentrations below which there is a direct harmful effect to health. Strong odours can be unpleasant and can impact on wellbeing, leading to stress and anxiety.

It is important to note that the Jerome readings only tell us if there is a presence of hydrogen sulphide at a precise location in that moment in time.

Update 08 April 2024

This message has been produced by the Environment Agency (EA) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in consultation with Leeds City Council to address heath concerns raised by the local community affected by Peckfield Landfill Site.

Peckfield Landfill Site: Reports of odour

We are aware that the local community are continuing to report odour pollution from Peckfield Landfill Site, Ridge Road, Micklefield, Leeds, LS25 4DW (the Site) operated by Caird Peckfield Limited (the Operator). We would like to thank residents for reporting their concerns and encourage them to keep doing so.

The Site is operated under an environmental permit (EPR/BU9726IH) issued and regulated by the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency has assessed that the operator is in breach of a number of their environmental permit conditions. A range of regulatory interventions and enforcement tools are being used by the Environment Agency to address these breaches, to bring the operator back into compliance with the environmental permit and to address the odour issues resulting from those breaches as quickly as possible.

We appreciate that this will be concerning, and residents will want the problem resolved as quickly as possible. In order to understand any potential impacts the odour may have on the local community’s health and wellbeing the Environment Agency have consulted with colleagues at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Leeds City Council.

The following information has been supplied by the UKHSA to assist the community address health concerns.

Are the odours causing or going to cause health effects?

We understand that unpleasant, strong smells can impact on quality of life and wellbeing, so we would like to explain more about the effects of odour on health and wellbeing, and what residents can do to reduce any associated symptoms.

The human nose is very sensitive. There are many things that have a strong smell at levels at which there are no direct harmful effects to health. However, strong smells are unpleasant and can impact on wellbeing leading to stress and anxiety. Some people may also experience symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, or dizziness, as a reaction to strong smells, even when the substances that cause those smells are themselves not harmful to health.

Short-term health effects may be experienced as a result of strong odours such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. People who have health conditions that affect breathing, such as asthma, may experience increased frequency and/or severity of symptoms. With continuing exposure these effects may be prolonged but are not anticipated to continue long-term once exposure is reduced.

Landfill gas contains hydrogen sulphide which is a by-product as the on-site waste degrades. The human nose is very sensitive to hydrogen sulphide which has a characteristic odour of rotten eggs. The first noticeable effect of hydrogen sulphide at very low concentrations is its unpleasant odour, which may cause discomfort and some short-term health effects. At higher concentrations it may cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. It may also disturb sleep if experienced at night at low levels.

What can I do to reduce symptoms caused by odour?

In order to limit the effects of the odour as much as possible, the UKHSA would advise:

Close windows if there is an outdoor odour and open them once any outdoor odour has reduced.
You could consider closing windows at night and opening them in the morning in the absence of odours which and are more likely to occur overnight and in the early hours of the morning when weather conditions are calm and still.
Ventilate your property when there is no odour outdoors by opening windows and patio doors etc.
Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you have concerns about your individual circumstances, feel unwell or require health advice.

Please continue to report odour to the free 24/7 Environment Agency incident hotline on: 0800 80 70 60.

The Environment Agency will continue to update the local community as the situation progresses.

Environment Agency General Enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
United Kingdom

Email mickelfield@environment-agency.gov.uk

All copies of our newsletters and CAR forms can be found in the Related Documents section below.

Landfill sites - permits and how we regulate Landfill sites - permits and how we regulate

Our aim is to protect and improve the environment so everyone can enjoy the benefits of a clean, safe and healthy place to live, work and play.

We issue environmental permits that set standards for those operating waste management facilities including landfills like the site at Peckfield. The permit provides a list of conditions relating to waste types and volumes, construction and design of infrastructure, emission limits, and the location and frequency of environmental monitoring.

The operator, Caird Peckfield Limited (CPL) must comply with the strict conditions of its permit in order to minimise its impact on the environment and the local community. You can find a copy of the Peckfield Landfill Site environmental permit here and under the ‘Related’ section at the bottom of this page.

It is our role to assess compliance with the permit and to take appropriate regulatory action if we identify any breaches. We do so by reference to our enforcement and sanctions policy and the Government’s core guidance on environmental policy and with appropriate regard to the Regulators' Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the source of the odour? What is the source of the odour?

The odour is primarily due to the uncontrolled release of landfill gas. This is because:

There are unsealed gas extraction wells on recently capped areas.
There are disconnected gas extraction wells. This is leading to increased surface emissions of landfill gas from the unconfined edge of the capping.
There are surface emissions of landfill gas from uncapped areas.

The uncapped areas are also a source of waste odour.

Wind direction is not the only factor to consider when odour drifts off-site. Cold drainage flows (aka katabatic flow) can act to disperse odour downhill in certain conditions, typically on clear, cold nights when there is little wind to disperse the odour. We’ve produced a short animation to help explain this phenomenon here: How weather affects landfill sites

When will we stop experiencing landfill gas odours? When will we stop experiencing landfill gas odours?

The nature of the outstanding works to be completed on site mean the odours are likely to continue for the next few weeks, possibly months.

The timescales for completion cannot be guaranteed, however we have been informed by Caird Peckfield Limited that installation of the capping membrane will be completed within the next three weeks (as of week commencing 26^th February 2024). We continue to monitor progress closely and will seek to use additional enforcement tools if we do not see satisfactory progress. Our monitoring includes assessing the gas and leachate wells and identifying necessary remedial actions where emissions of gas are continuing.

Gas extraction levels must be set to ensure that air is not drawn into the waste as this can result in fires. Where gas extraction wells are close to uncapped areas, extraction has to be stopped to reduce this risk and this is currently the case at Peckfield. As capping progresses, extraction can commence in these areas and emissions of landfill gas to the atmosphere reduces as more gas is collected.

Landfill sites are dynamic systems and have the potential to release odour, even when they are well managed with appropriate and well-maintained control systems in place. With this in mind, and taking into account the proximity of Peckfield Landfill to the village of Micklefield, it is not possible to say that landfill gas odours will never be emitted. However, the intensity of the odours currently being experienced are not normal for a landfill site.

What is engineered capping? What is engineered capping?

The Landfill Directive refers to capping as the ‘top sealing layer’. This layer prevents rainwater flowing into the site through the surface and prevents gas escaping. Capping is either a clay or welded plastic membrane overlaid with a engineering textile and then a soil layer with a depth of at least 1 metre. The design of a landfill cap must be submitted to us for approval before the construction work commences. The capping design at Peckfield is of the welded plastic membrane type.

We inspect the works to ensure the construction is completed to the required standards.

Monitoring the effectiveness of the cap

Environmental Permits for landfills include conditions requiring the site operator to carry out surveys of the site surfaces for fugitive emissions. If emissions are detected action will be required by the operator. This may include repairs to capping or changes to elements of the landfill gas management system.

What is landfill gas? What is landfill gas?

Landfill gas is produced from the breakdown of biodegradable wastes. Gas produced from the landfilled waste consists mainly of methane and carbon dioxide. It also contains varying amounts of nitrogen and oxygen (from the air) and small amounts of other trace components. The gas produced will vary with types of waste and age of the landfill.

Some of these trace gases can be odorous which can result in a distinctive eggy smell.

How is landfill gas managed? How is landfill gas managed?

Landfill gas is managed through a combination of containment, extraction and treatment. Gas is contained by the landfill lining and capping systems, extraction through a system of in-waste extraction wells and a network of pipes and passed to gas utilisation compound where it is treated via combustion, usually as a fuel for large engines that generate electricity.

The combustion reduces the global warming and odour pollution potential of the emissions from the site.

This system needs to be progressively installed and well maintained throughout the life of the site. Gas production at landfill sites that have accepted biodegradable waste can continue for decades following the stopping of waste being brought onto site.

The pipelines that run from the gas wells into the rest of the pipe network can sometimes become blocked with liquid when the ground surface dips due to waste decomposition taking place within the landfill. This liquid is condensation from the landfill gas, which forms from the gas as it comes up through the warm waste in the gas well and then hits the cooler pipeline at the surface. If not allowed to drain, this can cause blockages, which reduce the effectiveness of the extraction system and can result in related gas emissions. Landfill surfaces changes, known as differential settlement and the clearance of blockages or the relaying of pipeworks to encourage drainage is a normal part of landfill infrastructure maintenance.

Is there an explosion risk? Is there an explosion risk?

Methane in air can result in an explosive atmosphere when in the range of 5% - 17%. When on-site, these levels can be experienced at certain points, for example, a leaking gas well. Our officers wear personal gas alarms that alert the user when entering a potentially explosive atmosphere.

Although the level of odour you are experiencing is strong and extremely unpleasant, this is due to the range of trace gases found within landfill gas. Methane itself is odourless, and levels beyond the site boundary will typically be at normal background levels of between 1 – 5 parts per million (ppm), and as such there is no risk of explosion due to high odour levels. Levels above the background level of 1-5 ppm can be found in various residential locations, such as above sewer grates, or mains gas pipe leaks.

Methane can migrate through the ground and accumulate in confined spaces such as cellars and houses. Landfill permits have specific monitoring conditions designed to identify whether sub-surface landfill gas migration is occurring. This is monitored in the boreholes at the site boundary. The are no indications that landfill gas is migrating through the ground beyond the site boundary.

How do the Environment Agency assess off-site odour if not using specific monitoring equipment? How do the Environment Agency assess off-site odour if not using specific monitoring equipment?

Sniff testing is the name given to the assessment of smells using the human nose. Some people are surprised that the human nose is used rather than monitoring equipment. There are several reasons for this.

The odour condition in environmental permits require odour pollution to be 'perceived by an authorised officer' which means that it is necessary for an officer to actually smell the odour themselves.

Odour intensity describes the strength of the odour as perceived by an individual officer. Our officers record odour intensity using a scale of 0 to 6 as follows:

No odour
Very faint odour (need to inhale into the wind to smell anything)
Faint odour (you can detect an odour when you inhale normally)
Distinct odour (there is clearly an odour in the air as you leave your car or enter the area)
Strong odour (a bearable odour but strong, you could stay in the area for some time)
Very strong odour (unpleasantly strong, you will want to leave the area quickly)
Extremely strong odour (likely to cause nausea and a strong need to remove yourself from the odour immediately).

The human nose is still the best means we have for detecting the full range of gases that cause odour. The concentrations at which these odorous gases are present in outdoor (ambient) air is usually very low beyond site boundaries (even if the smell is intense), and few pieces of equipment are sensitive enough to pick up the full range of these gases, when compared to the nose. In addition, sniff testing is physically versatile and allows us to assess odour at most locations without restrictions relating to external power, weather conditions, terrain etc.

Why does the Environment Agency not send out an officer every time odour is reported? Why does the Environment Agency not send out an officer every time odour is reported?

Our knowledge of the problems at Peckfield mean that we are visiting the site regularly and, prior to going onto site, we undertake off-site odour assessments in accordance with the process outlined above. Our visits to site often coincide with multiple reports being made to our incident hotline, so please be assured that we continue to assess odour from locations in Micklefield and the surrounding area.

Although we are unable to attend in response to every call and cannot resolve the odour nuisance immediately, reported incidents are one way in which we assess how a site is performing and whether improvements are working.

What is a Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) form What is a Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) form

A Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) is used to record the findings of our site inspections, audits and monitoring activities, reviews of monitoring and other data/report. We use these forms to:

Record our observations.
Provide advice and guidance.
Identify and score permit breaches and specify any remedial actions required.
Inform the operator of enforcement action, if any, that we are considering.

We use our guidance on assessing and scoring environmental permit compliance to score permit breaches in accordance with our Compliance Classification Scheme (CCS).

The ‘Related’ section below includes links to Compliance Assessment Reports (CAR) following site inspections undertaken. Links to CAR reports will continue to be added in line with the process outlined above.

Is the site still accepting waste? Is the site still accepting waste?

While the site is no longer active (in terms of not accepting domestic type biodegradable waste), it is undergoing restoration work. This includes the installation of a engineered capping membrane to seal the site, and the importation of soils for the restoration layer. You should expect to see activities on site to bring in and place the soil needed for this work. We do not expect this will produce odours as the type of grassland proposed requires very little organic matter.

We will continue to regulate the site during these phases of work, in accordance with CPL’s operational procedures and their restoration plan.

Once restoration work has been completed, these areas will be seeded with grass in line with the planning conditions for the site. Leeds City Council should be approached if you would like additional information on how the site will look in the future, in terms of matters such as site levels and planting.

Is there a health risk associated with the odour? Is there a health risk associated with the odour?

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently updated their guidance on Impacts on health from landfill sites and you can view this here impacts on health of emissions from landfill sites. Any health concerns should be raised with a local GP or by calling the NHS helpline 111.

Peckfield Landfill Site: Reports of odour

The following information has been supplied by the UKHSA to assist the community address health concerns.

Are the odours causing or going to cause health effects?

What can I do to reduce symptoms caused by odour?

In order to limit the effects of the odour as much as possible, the UKHSA would advise:

Close windows if there is an outdoor odour and open them once any outdoor odour has reduced.
You could consider closing windows at night and opening them in the morning in the absence of odours which and are more likely to occur overnight and in the early hours of the morning when weather conditions are calm and still.
Ventilate your property when there is no odour outdoors by opening windows and patio doors etc.
Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you have concerns about your individual circumstances, feel unwell or require health advice.

Please continue to report odour to the free 24/7 Environment Agency incident hotline on: 0800 80 70 60.

What enforcement action are you taking? What enforcement action are you taking?

Non compliances with the permit have been scored on our compliance assessment reports and records of these are at the bottom of this page.

On the 12^{th of} December 2023 an enforcement notice was served under Regulation 36 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. This required CPL to undertake works to improve the site infrastructure, in order to bring CPL back into compliance with their permit. The deadline for the completion of these infrastructure works was 19 January 2023.

Our officers assessed compliance with the enforcement notice following the expiry of the deadlines and confirmed the requirements of the notice had not been complied with. Non-compliance with an enforcement notice is an offence under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, as are non-compliances with permit conditions.

Investigations will continue and further enforcement action is being considered in line with our Environment Agency Enforcement and Sanctions Policy. The policy outlines a range of available enforcement options that can be applied, one of which being prosecution.

We are conducting these investigations separately to, but alongside our continuing regulation of the site.

Investigations must be conducted in accordance with the codes of practice for both the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Following these codes ensures that our criminal investigation can stand up to scrutiny in the event of any enforcement action.

This work is ongoing so we are unable to provide detailed information or specific updates on them. This includes providing timescales for completion.

How can you help? How can you help?

How can you help?

Please keep reporting any incidences of odours to us. Please ring our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. It is operational 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

For more information or to join our distribution list for the newsletter please contact micklefield@environment-agency.gov.uk

We run a 24-hour incident hotline. You can use this number to tell us if the site is causing a nuisance. Our hotline number is 0800 807060.

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