Landfill Operation
Point 4
Peter L POINT 4.mp3Monitoring the Landfill
Monitoring the Landfill
In this area are some of the nearly 900 monitoring points in the park. Biffa staff manage these each week.
In this area are some of the nearly 900 monitoring points in the park. Biffa staff manage these each week.
“on the site itself we monitor the water levels, or the dirty water in the site, which we call leachate and what we are obliged to do, or required to do under our permit is maintain those levels at a low level and so that’s why we built our treatments plants so we pump the water out of that and pump it through our treatment plant. So, we monitor the levels in the site. We also monitor the gas being produced in the site and the number of extraction wells so we want to know that we’re taking all gas as we can: one because it’s a revenue stream for us because we produce electricity; and two because if it’s not going up the pipework then it’s probably going somewhere else. So, it’s control of the gas. Around the site we have perimeter monitoring points which monitor mainly gas migration from the landfill and we also have ground water quality monitoring points. So we’re just making sure that none of the dirty water, the leachate, in the site, leaves the site and contaminates the ground water. And as I said we’re still obliged under our current permit to continue monitoring until the day that the landfill poses no environmental risk.” Peter L
“on the site itself we monitor the water levels, or the dirty water in the site, which we call leachate and what we are obliged to do, or required to do under our permit is maintain those levels at a low level and so that’s why we built our treatments plants so we pump the water out of that and pump it through our treatment plant. So, we monitor the levels in the site. We also monitor the gas being produced in the site and the number of extraction wells so we want to know that we’re taking all gas as we can: one because it’s a revenue stream for us because we produce electricity; and two because if it’s not going up the pipework then it’s probably going somewhere else. So, it’s control of the gas. Around the site we have perimeter monitoring points which monitor mainly gas migration from the landfill and we also have ground water quality monitoring points. So we’re just making sure that none of the dirty water, the leachate, in the site, leaves the site and contaminates the ground water. And as I said we’re still obliged under our current permit to continue monitoring until the day that the landfill poses no environmental risk.” Peter L
The initial planning permission for the park restricted the height of the landfill, which was later extended to 37m height. Residents complained of the smell, flies, pests and lost their view when the landfill was built
The initial planning permission for the park restricted the height of the landfill, which was later extended to 37m height. Residents complained of the smell, flies, pests and lost their view when the landfill was built
Photos - Tony Doherty
Photos - Tony Doherty
Patricia M POINT 4.mp3So what’s the earliest memory you’ve got of the landfill?
So what’s the earliest memory you’ve got of the landfill?
"Seeing all the flies and the rats and the...( intake of breath)
"Seeing all the flies and the rats and the...( intake of breath)
Oh my God. Well it was just the seagulls.
Oh my God. Well it was just the seagulls.
The seagulls were absolutely making a racket, following this bulldozer going up, I could see all the trucks coming and tipping up the rubbish and the seagulls following the bulldozer "
The seagulls were absolutely making a racket, following this bulldozer going up, I could see all the trucks coming and tipping up the rubbish and the seagulls following the bulldozer "
and then the smell and the flies. it was awful, well rotten vegetation.
and then the smell and the flies. it was awful, well rotten vegetation.
until they covered it. But gradually it went off naturally once they started covering it and then they started making the, as we call it, the zigzag, going up.
until they covered it. But gradually it went off naturally once they started covering it and then they started making the, as we call it, the zigzag, going up.
PM Only the flies and the rats. You couldn’t have your windows open. And you were buying, I don’t know whether you can still get them now, you know the fly catchers that you hung from (laughing) the thing. You just had to keep changing those. Because as I say it was horrendous you couldn’t open the windows.
PM Only the flies and the rats. You couldn’t have your windows open. And you were buying, I don’t know whether you can still get them now, you know the fly catchers that you hung from (laughing) the thing. You just had to keep changing those. Because as I say it was horrendous you couldn’t open the windows.
You’d have to shut the doors and that and you could see the rats. Luckily, I’ve got two cats next door. Charlie always brings in a present home for his mum (laughing) and puts it either on the bed or the floor.
You’d have to shut the doors and that and you could see the rats. Luckily, I’ve got two cats next door. Charlie always brings in a present home for his mum (laughing) and puts it either on the bed or the floor.
Do you still get rats?
Do you still get rats?
Charlie does sometimes.
Charlie does sometimes.
Patricia M - Local Resident
Patricia M - Local Resident
Jane B POINT 4.mp3Well, I mean flies and waste go together, don’t they?
Well, I mean flies and waste go together, don’t they?
Actually, I’ve just remembered we also had a hawk there. There was a guy with a hawk at least once a week and he was to keep the seagulls away and the hawk would go flying around. In fact, I remember taking my son, who was. He’s 30 now but he was tiny then, taking him up to see the hawk because it was. I can’t say a pet hawk because I don’t suppose you do have pet hawks.
Actually, I’ve just remembered we also had a hawk there. There was a guy with a hawk at least once a week and he was to keep the seagulls away and the hawk would go flying around. In fact, I remember taking my son, who was. He’s 30 now but he was tiny then, taking him up to see the hawk because it was. I can’t say a pet hawk because I don’t suppose you do have pet hawks.
Getting back to the flies, there used to be. They used to spray something, it was a cherry spray to disguise the smell of the waste and also I think it contained a lot of fly killer. However it wasn’t great to breathe in so. I think basically as soon as the waste came in, it was covered. It wasn’t left out so that was the way they tried to keep the fly population down.
Getting back to the flies, there used to be. They used to spray something, it was a cherry spray to disguise the smell of the waste and also I think it contained a lot of fly killer. However it wasn’t great to breathe in so. I think basically as soon as the waste came in, it was covered. It wasn’t left out so that was the way they tried to keep the fly population down.
Actually, now that you’ve said about the rodent population, I remember rats all the time. All the time. They don’t bother me. But they’d be sitting on the steps of the weighbridge. And the bin men were usually the biggest whooses going, you know. They’d be the ones going, ‘Oh God, Jane, I can’t, I can’t…’ And we had quite a lot of rats.
Actually, now that you’ve said about the rodent population, I remember rats all the time. All the time. They don’t bother me. But they’d be sitting on the steps of the weighbridge. And the bin men were usually the biggest whooses going, you know. They’d be the ones going, ‘Oh God, Jane, I can’t, I can’t…’ And we had quite a lot of rats.
Jane B Weighbridge Operator
Jane B Weighbridge Operator
Landfill a poem by Chrissie Youngman
Today as the blowing grasses And billions of wild flowers brush against our feet We see only God’s creation; The crown of his glory covering our creation Of plastic, trapped beneath a mighty dome Of plastic.
The gentle Teasel and Lady’s Bedstraw Belie the truth That far below a dead world lives. Not the underground metropolis of worms,Or even our loved one’s bones. No, the dead world of vapours Oozes and seeps in methane gas Far underneath our feet.
Not the lifegiving ooze of mud Under deep water Or even silt, sticky from the river, But hard man made obsolete towers. Useless towers of plastic Unable to collapse, and Unable to claim membership Of the great life force.
Somehow man attempted creation And the monster lies buried in methane (Dead and buried – my child) Sometimes when the great monster below Breathes deeply The methane is let out We say “in a controlled manner.”
Perhaps it’s time to forget our blundering creative frenzies Before we blow ourselves up. Let’s sit on a bench under the billowing sky Catching sight of some mountains Superior to the plastic ones we make ourselves. Look – quickly – there in the river A porpoise – look, just there! And another – joining us for the afternoon.
Nesting Birds
Nesting Birds
In 2019 the fenced area in front of you was created to provide a protected area for ground nesting birds, like skylarks from disturbance. Listen out for them and see if you can follow their flight into the sky.
In 2019 the fenced area in front of you was created to provide a protected area for ground nesting birds, like skylarks from disturbance. Listen out for them and see if you can follow their flight into the sky.
Directions to next point
Directions to next point
Continue along the summit to ‘Grandpa’s Chair’.
Continue along the summit to ‘Grandpa’s Chair’.