Hespin Wood Landfill
Hespin Wood Landfill
- Acceptance and Disposal of Non-Hazardous Waste: This is the primary activity, covering the process of receiving, tipping, and managing specified types and quantities of non-hazardous waste.
- Landfill Gas Management: The permit includes conditions for the collection, control, and management of landfill gas generated by the decomposing waste. This is crucial for preventing odours and, in many cases, for generating energy.
- Leachate Management: The permit covers the collection, treatment, and management of leachate (the liquid that drains through the waste) to prevent groundwater and surface water pollution.
- Pollution Control Measures: It mandates the implementation of measures to minimise and control potential pollution, including odours, dust, and litter. This often involves requirements for daily cover of waste and specific operational techniques.
- Site Infrastructure Management: Conditions relate to the construction and maintenance of site infrastructure, such as liners, capping, and gas collection systems, to ensure environmental protection.
- Monitoring and Reporting: The operator is required to conduct regular monitoring of environmental parameters (e.g., air quality, gas levels, leachate levels) and submit reports to the Environment Agency to demonstrate compliance.
- Increased Regulatory Scrutiny: The EA has intensified inspections of the landfill, including on-site and utilising drones for site monitoring.
- Our Partners: The Environment Agency collaborates with Cumberland Council for planning and environmental health issues. You can find out more about this below.
- The first is the waste odour. This is caused by fresh waste rapidly decomposing and tends to come from vehicles travelling to and from the site and whilst it is tipped. This is similar to the odours that are contained within a domestic bin. It poses little risk to human health and can be tackled by depositing the waste quickly and covering it with soils called “daily cover”.
- The second type of odour is landfill gas. This is gas generated by the breakdown of the waste inside the body of the landfill site. Landfill gas is mostly methane and carbon dioxide, which are odourless and colourless. However, landfill gas also contains trace components such as hydrogen sulphide that, even in very small quantities, has a strong smell of rotten eggs, which the human body is very sensitive to. Although the smell caused by the trace levels of hydrogen sulphide gas can be strong and unpleasant, it does not automatically mean that it is harmful. Our sense of smell is very sensitive and we can smell hydrogen sulphide at very low levels.
- The primary regulatory for on-site waste disposal through the Environmental Permit - leading on matters of Landfill Engineering; Waste Volumes and Types; Pollution Control Measures (landfill gas management and leachate management); Emissions and Pest (odour, dust, litter, vermin).
- You can report instances of environmental pollution to us on 0800 80 70 60 or on-line at: Report an environmental problem - GOV.UK(External link)
- Our compliance assessment reports will become available to the public from the following link: Environmental Permitting Regulations – Installations(External link)
- The Council is leading on matters relating to Noise; Operational Hours; Highways; Public Rights of Way; Trees and terrestrial Ecology.
- Any issues or concerns in respect of landfill activity that relate to the above matters that the Council is leading upon, should be directed to Cumberland Council’s Minerals and Waste Planning Team via email to MWPlanning@WestmorlandandFurness.gov.uk(External link)
- The main current planning permission for landfill operations is 1/17/9001. The planning conditions and plans/documents that comprise this planning permission can be viewed online at: Minerals, Waste and County Council Planning Applications | Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council
- Past, current and any future planning applications relating to this site can also be viewed online at: Planning.cumbria.gov.uk/(External link)
What is this site?
Hespin Wood Landfill is an established landfill site that has been in operation for many decades. Historically, the site was operated by Cumbria Waste Management, who ran the site with relatively low waste inputs in recent years. In Summer 2025, the landfill element of the company was taken over by Seletia (HW) Ltd, who hold the environmental permit for non-hazardous waste disposal.
In addition to the landfill site, there are a number of other permitted waste management activities taking place at Hespin Wood. This include a wood waste & composting site operated by AW Jenkinson; a Mechanical Biological Treatment Plant operated by Biffa (formerly Renewi, formerly Shanks) which manages black bin waste collected by Cumberland Council; A Materials Recovery Facility (recycling centre) operated by Cumbria Waste Management; an aggregates processing plant also operated by Cumbria Waste Management. Finally there is also a roadstone plant operated by Jobbling Purser (which is not a waste facility).
What activities are covered by the environmental permit for the landfill site?
The Environment Agency regulates Hespin Wood Landfill Environmental Permit (EPR/6026IB). A copy of the permit can he found here. This permit outlines mandatory conditions for all operations, including waste acceptance, landfill gas management, leachate treatment, and pollution control (especially odour, dust, and litter), alongside requirements for infrastructure and regular environmental monitoring.
Specifically, the permit allows and regulates activities such as:
The permit dictates how the landfill must be operated to ensure environmental protection, covering everything from the incoming waste to the management of gases, liquids, and overall site integrity, all with the aim of minimising impact on the surrounding community.
Site Permit and Conditions
A link to the permit for the Hespin Wood Landfill can be found here
The latest set of permit conditions can be found here
What activities are covered by the permit?
What is the Environment Agency currently doing about the site?
In response to concerns from nearby residents the Environment Agency (EA) has taken a range of significant actions:
How does the Environment Agency decide whether a site is impacting the environment?
In the case of individual sites, the Environment Agency carefully monitors the performance of a landfill site using a wide range of parameters including groundwater, surface water and air monitoring, pollution reports, the operator’s own monitoring and aerial photography. We use all these parameters to determine the compliance of the site and if we have concerns, we require the operator of the site to take steps to resolve them. If the operator of the permitted site does not respond to our concerns, we can carry out our own check monitoring and use a range of enforcement notices to force the operator of the site to take action.
What can I smell?
The odour pollution from landfill sites falls into two broad categories:
Due to the other waste management operations on site, if you are reporting odour to our incident line on 0800 80 70 60 or via the Incident inbox - incident_communication_service@environment-agency.gov.uk please try and describe the odour for us.
Who are the regulatory authorities and what are they responsible for? How do I contact them?
Environment Agency:
Cumberland Council:
Can waste from Scotland be accepted at Hespin Wood Landfill? And is it being taken there?
We are aware of concerns about waste coming from Scotland to be disposed of in landfills in northern England. The Environmental Permit sets out what waste can be landfilled and how much can be taken there per year. There is no restriction as to where the waste comes from.
How much waste can be taken to Flusco? And is this being exceeded?
The Environmental Permit sets the following annual tonnage limits. These are assessed at the end of the year. However, a review of waste inputs does not indicate that this will be exceeded in 2025:
Table S1.5 Annual waste inputs limits | |
Category | Limit tonnes/ Year |
Non-hazardous waste | 132,000 |
Inert waste | 50,000 |
Waste for restoration | 25,000 |
How often are the Environment Agency officers visiting the landfill?
The Environment Agency have no set routine for visits to the landfill. This, along with unannounced inspections, allows us to see the landfill as it is operated, rather than the state of the landfill being prepared for our visit. We also carry out arranged inspections if we need to discuss particular issues with technical staff, for example engineering. In response to public concerns, we have been inspecting more frequently than we normally would, including using drones to give us a good overview of the landfill.
Are engineering inspections carried out?
Landfill engineering is a complex and highly regulated discipline. Under the terms of its permit, Seletia must design and construct landfill cells to rigorous standards, as required in guidance on gov.uk(External link). The design and construction proposals must be submitted to the Environment Agency for agreement before works start. Landfill infrastructure is required to be constructed to control emissions such as landfill gas, contaminated water from the waste, called leachate, and surface water – all is subject to inspection and validation by a third party independent engineering inspector. Alongside this independent oversight, Environment Agency officers also visit the site to inspect the engineering works.
At the conclusion of construction, a Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) validation report is submitted to the Environment Agency for review. Only once the Environment Agency’s engineer confirms that the cell has been built in full compliance with the approved design, is Seletia authorised to begin depositing waste in the new cell.
Other landfills have an Environment Agency air quality monitoring unit in-situ nearby. Can one be used here?
From time to time the Environment Agency has used air quality monitoring units to assist with our regulatory assessment of a landfill. These units can monitor for key atmospheric pollutants that may be released from a landfill. We do not consider the use of one of these units near to Hespin Wood Landfill as being necessary at this time. This is based on our assessment of the current state of the site. However, we will keep this decision under review. (March 2026)
What is ‘Financial Provision’ and is it in place?
Financial provision is a requirement of the Landfill Directive under The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. Financial provision means you have sufficient funds available for as long as the landfill poses a hazard and to maintain and monitor the site during the aftercare phase.
I’ve heard that landfill operators need a Certificate of Technical Competence. What is this and do Seletia have it?
Landfill operators are required to provide a Technically Competent Manager to run the landfill. The WAMITAB / CIWM Operator Competence Scheme is a regulated qualification framework designed for individuals managing or working at permitted waste sites in England and Wales. The scheme demonstrates that personnel are technically competent to operate in compliance with Environmental Permitting Regulations. There is a Technically Competent Manager in place for Seletia at Hespin Wood Landfill.
Are Seletia required to stop litter leaving the site and do they have to collect litter that escapes?
Seletia are required to use measures to prevent litter from leaving the landfill. One of the controls for this is mobile litter netting. Litter is collected at the boundary and, where accessible, from beyond the boundary of the site.
Site Permit and Conditions
A link to the permit for the Hespin Wood Landfill can be found here
The latest set of permit conditions can be found here