Facebook group demand action over Cannock tip's foul stench

Residents have taken Facebook to complain about bad odours coming from the Poplars Landfill Site, off Lichfield Road.

The site is owned and operated by Biffa Waste Services Ltd, which has promised it is taking action to deal with the problem.

Concerns have been been raised with Cannock Chase Council and the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency has an environment permit in place with Biffa, which allows the company to operate the site – including conditions relating to the monitoring and control of odour.

Cannock Chase Council has not got powers to enforce conditions, but has also contacted the site operators and the Environment Agency in relation to residents' concerns.

A Facebook group Cannock Tip – Stop the Stench has attracted more than 1,000 members calling for action to be taken.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It really smells. It is definitely getting worse too.

"We could barely smell it over the summer when we first moved into our property and now you can smell it every night."

Councillor John Preece, environment portfolio leader at Cannock Chase Council, said: "The council has expressed its concerns about the management of the site to the operators and to the Environment Agency, and requested that urgent action be taken to prevent or minimise odours in accordance with the Environment Permit.

“We understand Biffa has been releasing information explaining what action it is taking to deal with the current situation, alongside a December newsletter explaining its current work on site and its role at the Poplars.”

A spokesman from Biffa said: “Our Cannock site has a landfill gas action plan in place which has been issued to the Environmental Agency.

"We are regularly updating the Environmental Agency and the council on progress to reduce the issue on-site.”

Anyone affected by the odour can report it to the Environment Agency on their 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060.