Local residents express fears that a new treatment plant may cause unpleasant smells similar to Walleys Quarry
Staffordshire: So, there’s this plan to treat contaminated water at a landfill site, and folks are a bit on edge about it. Biffa Waste Services wants to set up a leachate treatment plant at Meece Landfill, which is nestled between Swynnerton and Yarnfield.
Right now, they’re hauling away contaminated water with tanker trucks, and it’s a bit of a hassle. Up to five big trucks are leaving the site daily. Biffa claims that this new plant would let them treat the water on-site, cutting down truck trips to just two a day.
But here’s the thing: residents are worried about bad smells and noise. They’re also concerned that leachates from other places might end up at Meece for treatment. Still, planning officers at Staffordshire County Council are backing the project after Biffa gave some reassurances.
The planning report says that this new setup should actually improve how leachates are handled and shouldn’t negatively impact the local area or environment, as long as certain conditions are met.
This landfill has been around since 1986. It started with ash from an incinerator, but by 1999, they were allowed to dump domestic and industrial waste too. They stopped landfilling in 2010, but the site can still operate until 2035.
The proposed treatment area would have various tanks and a tall carbon dioxide stripping tower. Biffa argues that the current way of dealing with leachate is not sustainable, and this new plant is the best option.
Residents have voiced their worries about smells and noise, plus whether leachate from other sites would be treated there. Biffa has assured everyone that any noise will meet guidelines and that the system will be contained, making odors unlikely. They also confirmed they won’t be bringing in leachate from other places.
No one from the Environment Agency or Severn Trent Water has raised objections. The planning committee is set to discuss the application on Thursday, January 9.
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