AN “urgent review” is required into the actions of the environmental regulator following a barrage of complaints concerning the controversial Withyhedge landfill site, according to the Welsh government. This call to action follows a damning investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, which aired on Friday, alleging improper waste management practices at the site.

Residents living near the Withyhedge landfill site, located near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, have likened the overwhelming stench to “a stink bomb on steroids.” Their complaints reached a crescendo as the Dispatches programme brought to light accusations that unsuitable waste, including vials of blood, had been disposed of at the landfill.

Despite the allegations, the company operating the site has vehemently denied these claims, stating that no unsuitable waste has been placed in the landfill. The company has, however, apologised to the local community for the persistent odour issues.

National Resources Wales (NRW), the country’s environmental watchdog, has stated it is actively working to address the concerns. However, the spotlight has intensified on David Neal, the firm’s director, who has a history of environmental offences. Neal, who has been convicted twice for environmental crimes, is embroiled in controversy over a £200,000 donation from his company to the leadership campaign of First Minister Vaughan Gething. Neal received a suspended prison sentence in 2013 for illegally dumping waste on a conservation site and faced prosecution again four years later for failing to remove the waste.

First Minister Gething has consistently maintained that the donation rules were adhered to. However, the Dispatches programme’s claims have reignited scrutiny over Neal’s operations and his relationship with the Welsh government.

One anonymous former employee, who worked as a driver for Neal’s company between 2020 and 2022, alleged that recyclable materials, including tyres and syringes, were not sorted as required but instead were dumped directly into the landfill. The whistleblower also mentioned materials known to produce hydrogen sulphide, such as plasterboard, being improperly discarded.

Another ex-employee revealed that medical waste, including vials of blood, was delivered to the site daily. A third former worker corroborated these claims, adding that leachate—a contaminated liquid produced by landfill sites—was not correctly disposed of but was instead placed in holes in the ground. This leachate, the programme reported, could contribute to the hydrogen sulphide smell and pose environmental risks if it leaches into surrounding areas.

Public Health Wales has disclosed that its monitoring detected hydrogen sulphide levels at the Withyhedge site during March and April that exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. Officials advised residents to keep their doors and windows closed when the odour is present and to seek medical help if they feel unwell.

In response to the Dispatches programme, a Welsh government spokesperson highlighted NRW’s responsibility to ensure landfill operators comply with stringent environmental and legal standards. “Given the serious nature of the issues raised by the programme, we have asked NRW to urgently review what action it took to investigate and address the complaints raised directly with it since 2020,” the spokesperson stated.

Senedd leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, expressed frustration over the prolonged issues at Withyhedge. “The evidence and allegations put forward last night in the Channel 4 programme regarding the first minister’s donor’s company cannot be ignored and urgent action must finally be taken,” he said.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, questioned First Minister Gething’s judgement in accepting a substantial donation from Neal, a convicted polluter. “Last night’s programme raises further serious questions about Vaughan Gething’s judgement in accepting a large donation from David Neal,” Iorwerth said. He also criticised the Welsh government for only now requesting an urgent review from NRW, despite longstanding concerns about Neal’s operations.

Gareth O’Shea of NRW responded by stating that the regulator has been gathering information to decide if further enforcement action is necessary. “Since the odour issues at the site were first identified in late October 2023, our priority has always been to ensure the operator takes the action required to remediate the most likely source of those odours as quickly as possible,” O’Shea said. He assured that NRW has maintained a significant regulatory presence on site and will continue to collaborate with Pembrokeshire County Council and Public Health Wales to address the issues at Withyhedge Landfill.

The operator of Withyhedge landfill reiterated its denial of dumping inappropriate materials, apologised for the odours, and highlighted its significant financial investments aimed at resolving the site’s issues.

As the Welsh government and NRW move forward with the urgent review, the residents of Haverfordwest and the surrounding areas wait anxiously for concrete actions to address the longstanding environmental and health concerns posed by the Withyhedge landfill site.