Fresh complaints over persistent landfill odour as Heywood residents report 'sewer' stench and fly infestation

Residents across Heywood have once again reported a strong unpleasant smell drifting across parts of the town, with many describing an odour resembling sewage, rotting waste or landfill gas. The latest complaints have reignited concerns over the long-running issues surrounding the nearby Pilsworth South landfill site.

Several residents also reported unusually high numbers of flies, a problem which campaigners have previously associated with the landfill during earlier periods of odour complaints.

Rebecca Hodkinson wrote: "Yep... Unfortunately. And the amount of flies is something else this year."

Billy Casper added: "It stunk rotten like sewers when I was walking up Heywood past Iceland at 5.30 this evening. I don't think it was the landfill though."

Jeanette Noble commented: "I've been smelling it on Darnhill for a few months and the amount of flies is terrible."

Although some residents believe the smell may have originated elsewhere, the recurrence of similar complaints has led many to question whether problems linked to the landfill have returned.

The issue first gained widespread public attention during 2024 when thousands of complaints were submitted to the Environment Agency by residents across Heywood, Middleton, Bury and Rochdale. The smell became one of the borough's most significant environmental concerns, leading to regulatory investigations into landfill gas management and odour control measures at the site.

Under environmental law, landfill sites are permitted to operate only under an Environmental Permit issued by the Environment Agency. Operators are legally required to use Best Available Techniques (BAT) to prevent or minimise pollution, including offensive odours. Persistent smells escaping beyond the site boundary are not automatically unlawful, but they can lead to regulatory enforcement where permit conditions are breached. The Environment Agency has powers to require operational improvements, vary permit conditions, or take enforcement action where appropriate.

The issue has also attracted political attention. West Heywood councillor Angela Brown has repeatedly encouraged residents to report every odour incident directly to the Environment Agency, stressing that detailed reports help investigators establish patterns and build evidence. Heywood and Middleton North MP Elsie Blundell has likewise raised concerns publicly and in Parliament regarding the impact of the landfill on surrounding communities.

Controversy has continued following approval for further landfill operations despite ongoing complaints from nearby residents. Campaigners argue that expansion should not proceed until odour problems have been fully resolved, while regulators maintain that environmental permits require operators to comply with strict controls.

Residents experiencing offensive odours are encouraged to report incidents directly to the Environment Agency, recording the date, time, location, weather conditions and a description of the smell. Multiple reports from different locations can assist investigators in determining whether a wider environmental incident is occurring.

For many residents, the recurring nature of the complaints is becoming increasingly frustrating. While only a full investigation can determine the source of any individual odour event, the persistence of reports over recent years demonstrates that confidence among the local community has yet to be restored.