Erin landfill site near Chesterfield slammed with the lowest Environment Agency compliance score – after over 450 complaints in a month

This brings the tip operator’s total CCS score for the current compliance year to 156 points, meaning Valencia is now classes as a Band F operator.

A Band F rating represents the lowest level of compliance performance. Operators receiving this rating are expected to demonstrate significant improvement and as a Band F operator, it is expected that Valencia, which was classed as Band D operator last year, will have to pay 300% of their standard subsistence fee in 2027.

A compliance assessment report issued after a site visit carried out on July 14 revealed the Environment Agency received more than 200 odour complaints regarding the Duckmanton landfill in just three days between Sunday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 14.

The complaints received described odours as ‘offensive in nature’.

In the report, the Environment Agency said that the disturbance of the waste generated landfill odours, which were detected on the site and off site.

The ‘offensive odours’ were also detected within residential areas of Duckmanton including Tom Lane, Poolsbrook Lane, in the East Crescent area as well as the West Crescent area near Duckmanton Primary School.

The on-site inspection determined that the primary source of the odours was the exposed waste face in Cell 5 of the landfill.

The report concluded that the site’s Odour Management Plan (OMP) was operating ‘well below the required standard’. Valencia was ‘not using appropriate management controls to prevent the generation, release, and off-site impact of offensive odours, as evidenced by the substantiated odour observations and the significant number of complaints received’.

The landfill operator was slammed with a 32-point Category 2 non-compliance due to the level of odour pollution noted off site and a further Category 2 non-compliance for failure to operate the site in accordance with a written management system.

Additionally, a Category 3 non-compliance was recorded due to a ‘larger than normal number of birds’ circling above the site, resulting in four CSS point.

Valencia was urged to immediately stop removing the waste from the upper section of the Cell 5 slope due to ‘serious odour pollution’ and provide an updated odour management plan.

The Environment Agency carried out further site visits later in July with odour detected across a number of locations on Monday, July 20.

A spokesperson for Valencia said: “This is not a new issue. We have apologised to the local community and discussed the issue alongside the Environment Agency in recent Stakeholder Liaison Forum meetings.

"In July we exposed an area of aged waste to enable this to be moved from a temporary location into the newly approved landfill cell.

"The aged waste, when exposed, caused a significant odour that could not be contained until the movement and capping was completed.

"We engaged with the Environment Agency to inform them of our rectification plan, carried this work out and the odour stopped shortly afterwards. Similar activities were completed in the previous year with no such complaints.

"We proactively stopped accepting waste until we had resolved the issue, and now the area is capped with additional gas extraction infrastructure - the odour issues have reduced.

"We have also committed to engage with the community and consider warm weather conditions more carefully when planning future work."

Commenting on the general regulation, a Valencia spokesperson added: "The Environment Agency regulates the Erin landfill site ensuring the operations comply with the conditions set out in its environmental permit.

"During routine, and unannounced, visits to the landfill site the Environment Agency will inspect a wide variety activities from the waste operations, through to pest control, and litter management.

"CCS points are issued when there is an observation and it is normal practice for sites, regardless of their condition, to be awarded points.

"The more CCS points received each year correspond to the compliance band the site sites within and the subsistence fee payable to the Environment Agency.

"We are committed to operating the landfill site compliantly and as a good neighbour.

"Whenever we receive observations or notifications from the Environment Agency we review them and take action accordingly.

"It was recognised by the Environment Agency and Chesterfield Borough Council that there have only been a handful of complaints in recent weeks."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Following complaints of odours, we instructed Valencia to take measures to reduce the impact and risk of further odour emissions.

"This included reshaping the exposed waste to trap odours, covering it with soil and laying down plastic sheeting across the site to trap gasses which has resulted in a significant reduction in reported odour impacts."

The agency added that while 456 odour complaints were received in July, only four reports have been received so far in September.

As a result of the permit breaches recorded during 2026, the operator will be assessed as Band F for the year. This rating will affect the subsistence fees payable by the operator in accordance with the Environment Agency's Compliance Classification Scheme and Compliance Assessment Principles.