Essex landfill site "breached permit" over "wastewater leak", says Environment Agency
Bellhouse Landfill site in Warren Lane in Heckfordbridge 'did not follow management documents'
A landfill company has breached its permit after a wastewater spill from an Essex treatment site, which sparked concerns of river contamination.
A report from the Environment Agency states the managers of Bellhouse Landfill site in Warren Lane, Heckfordbridge, 'did not follow management documents' for the incidents involving leaks or spillages, referred to as leachate.
The agency was contacted anonymously on March 27 informing the organisation about the wastewater leak from the site.
The unnamed caller said it was spilling into the road, and was “at risk of entering a surface water ditch linked to the nearby Roman River.”
The agency investigated and found no evidence the waste water entered the ditch and also found no evidence of contamination of the river. However the agency ordered the owner of the site, Enovert, to ensure staff undertake refresher training.
The report states: “As some leachate had overtopped the side wall and affected the adjacent land, you will be scored a category 3 for this non compliance."
... “It is considered that the operative responsible did not follow the relevant leachate management documentation"
“You were aware of the incident as early as 7am on the day and therefore a call to the 24 hour hotline before 11am should have been raised .... The EA is disappointed that they were only alerted to the incident via an anonymous report. This could be considered a breach of permit.”
Enovert was contacted for comment.