Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

CONCERNS have been raised amid more and more waste from England being dumped in a controversial landfill site in Wrexham.

The latest statistics obtained by Llyr Gruffydd for the Hafod landfill site in Johnstown, Wrexham revealed that 61% of the waste dumped there is from England with the remainder coming from north Wales. Just 19% is from Wrexham itself.

The site, which is run by Stafford-based Enovert, has come under criticism in the past year amid ongoing odour issues.

Residents have reported a "rotten egg" smell since October 2023, with an enforcement notice being issued to Enovert to address the issue in December. 

Last month, the issue was debated by Wrexham Council's Scrutiny committee, which said that parties needed to stop passing the buck, and address the matter.

In 2020 Mr Gruffydd questioned the company about the origins of the waste material. Back then, more than a quarter (27%) came from the Wrexham area.

Significantly more waste is now coming from Liverpool and Merseyside - 37% - as opposed to 21% in 2020.

Mr Gruffydd said: "The main concern is about the health and safety of the site and its impact on local residents. Back in 2020 people in the area were advised to close their windows during a heatwave because of the fumes from the fire that started on the site.

"Since then there have been ongoing concerns about the stink coming from the landfill, which affects residents in nearby Ruabon and Johnstown. The landfill has mainly been used by authorities in the north-west of England to dump waste away from their population and it's shameful that Wrexham residents are expected to just grin and bear it.

"Back in 2020, I received assurances from Wrexham Council that no municipal waste from the county was being dumped in Hafod. But the overall percentage of municipal waste from all authorities is increasing over the years and that may be the reason why the odour problems are becoming more pronounced now. 

"Residents want reassurance that the site is safe and the emissions are not harmful to local people's health. The growing level of waste being transported by lorries from across the border is another concern - aren't there any landfill sites closer to Liverpool, Manchester and Warrington? How long will residents near Hafod have to put up with this problem?"