The Jameson Road landfill site in Fleetwood has been emitting a foul odor described as resembling rotten eggs or bin juice, according to multiple reports. There have been over 20,000 complaints to the Environment Agency about the odor from the landfill site. Residents have reported health issues including nausea, headaches, sore eyes, nosebleeds, and worsening of breathing conditions like asthma and COPD, which they attribute to the odor.
The landfill site was closed in 2017 and reopened in 2023 by Transwaste Recycling and Aggregates Ltd, as reported by major media.
The foul odor is caused by hydrogen sulphide, a toxic gas released from the landfill, according to major media. The Environment Agency has recorded 72 permit breaches at the landfill site since its reopening.
The odor has affected children's willingness to play outside at a nearby primary school, multiple reports indicate.
A protest march was held by residents demanding the site's closure, as reported by major media. Residents and local MP Lorraine Beavers have called for the permanent closure of the landfill site, according to major media.
The Environment Agency claims the 'rotten egg' odor from the landfill is not a health issue, according to the agency. Wyre Borough Council advised residents to keep windows and doors closed due to the odor, as reported by the council.
The Environment Agency is pressing Transwaste to install permanent capping at the site to control gas and odors, according to major media. Transwaste said it would start capping on Monday, as reported by major media.
An Imperial College London study in 2020 found a small increase in congenital abnormalities in those living close to municipal waste sites, according to major media.
The specific long-term health effects, if any, scientifically linked to exposure to hydrogen sulphide from this landfill site are not yet established.
What enforcement actions, beyond capping, the Environment Agency is planning to take against Transwaste for the 72 permit breaches remains unclear.
Why the landfill site was reopened in 2023 after being closed in 2017, and what environmental assessments were conducted prior to reopening, have not been publicly detailed.
The estimated timeline for the permanent capping to be completed and effectively reduce the odor is uncertain, with Transwaste only committing to a start date.
Whether any independent medical studies are underway to investigate the residents' health claims related to the landfill odor is unknown.