Waste company bids to have permit suspension lifted

Natural Resources Wales suspended Potters Waste Management's permit to tip waste at the Bryn Posteg Landfill site near Llanidloes in January, after evidence showed more waste was being tipped than legally should have been.

At the time, NRW operations manager David Powell said the decision to stop waste being tipped was a last resort, as there was a risk to the surrounding environment.

Now the operator has applied to vary the permit, asking NRW for an extra 449,959 cubic metres of waste at the site.

The application is now out for consultation until later in the month, and town councillors in Llanidloes met to discuss the latest movements.

In the past they have had concerns about the smell coming from the site, and said they were still of the same opinion with the site being less than a mile and a half from the town.

The waste management company said road tankers would be operating in the area until mid to late October while work is underway to replace a waterproof plastic layer within the leachate treatment lagoon.

On Monday a meeting took place at the Chatwood, on Longbridge Street in Llanidloes, arranged by Potters, to present information about the new permit and to discuss issues with residents.

Holly Noble, permitting team leader of Natural Resources Wales said: “We have received an application to vary the permit for the Bryn Posteg waste site. This is open for public consultation until October 19.

“We will scrutinise the proposals to ensure they don’t pose a risk to the environment and the local community, and get advice from health experts, before deciding whether or not to issue the permit."

A planning application is also set to be prepared by Potters Waste Management to allow the company to retain the central part of the site at the current level.