Statement addressing local concerns with Lower Compton Landfill

As a local business we feel very much a part of the local community and Hills Waste Solutions would like to recognise that recent odour issues are impacting the quality of life for some Calne residents. 

The community should be reassured that Hills Waste Solutions’ landfill site and all other activities at our Lower Compton and Sands Farm sites are regulated by the Environment Agency (EA), and we continue to work closely with the EA to monitor and manage the sites in accordance with their permit obligations. This has included providing the EA with open access as they investigate potential sources of odour in the Calne area. 

There has been much speculation on social media that Hills’ Lower Compton landfill site is solely to blame for the odour issues in the area. We do not believe this is correct and to quote the EA, there is “…not conclusive evidence that the Lower Compton landfill is the sole source of odour” and that “There are multiple odour sources in the area. It is likely that some of the reports of odour we have received have been from other activities.” 

We continually monitor and seek to improve operations at the Lower Compton landfill site, to help contain fugitive emissions of landfill gas in accordance with requirements of our environmental permit. 

Working in conjunction with the EA, we have already completed a variety of works. As a responsible business, we continue to work hard implementing further improvements, including landfill capping, engineering works, and installing additional landfill gas collection infrastructure. Where we need to make improvements, we are making them, sometimes at significant cost to our business.

Our open and collaborative approach with the EA, was also reflected in a specially convened meeting on 06 May, with community-elected officials, the Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council, which included a visit to see the Lower Compton landfill site in person – and we believe attendees found this useful and informative.

We would also like to extend an invite for small groups of Calne residents to visit our Lower Compton site – to see for themselves how a modern, regulated landfill operation works. During this visit our team will be on hand to answer any questions they may have. We will shortly be sharing details through Calne Town Council about how residents can book a place on a site tour. 

In addition to the site tours, we will also be arranging a Town Hall event in conjunction with the EA, Wiltshire Council and Councillor Sam Pearce-Kearney. Again, more information will follow on this shortly.

Hills Waste Solutions