Hills statement on temporary Chapel Farm site closure

Company offers apologies to local residents affected by landfill odour and is addressing the situation

HILLS Waste Solutions have offered their sincere apologies to local residents who have been affected by odours coming from the Chapel Farm landfill site, near Blunsdow, Swindon, and are reassuring people that every possible action has been taken to try and bring the situation back to normal.

Since receiving complaints of odours, Hills have worked with the Environment Agency on a daily basis to understand the reason for the odour increase. However, despite completing all the additional works agreed with by the EA, and undertaking further substantial works which go over and above what is normally required of a landfill operator, the situation has not improved.  

The company has, therefore, temporarily suspended landfill operations at Chapel Farm site. Additional capping material is being moved into the operational area of the site to assist with sealing off areas where potential odours are coming from.

In addition, a drilling rig has been working on site to install further gas extraction wells in the operational area of the site. Hills anticipate that the suspension of landfilling activities will allow a full assessment of the installations and their effectiveness.

The closure only affects the landfill operations and the mechanical skip sorting area will remain open and operate as normal.