A multi‑agency response is working to address ongoing odour and health concerns from Walleys Quarry, with regulators, councils and health partners monitoring risks, supporting residents, and pushing for reduced emissions.
Landfill gas is formed in a landfill when biodegradable waste (such as food scraps, paper, and wood) rot and decompose (breakdown by bacteria) or evaporate. The gas is a mixture of mostly methane and carbon dioxide. It also contains several other gases in small quantities. The gas, if not properly contained within the engineered landfill, can seep out into the air and lead to unpleasant odours. The different gases that can make-up landfill gas vary depending upon the type of waste on a landfill site and how far the waste has broken down.
Landfill gas also contains hydrogen sulphide, which has a smell of rotten eggs. This is what residents can smell.
Yes. Some people are experiencing symptoms as a reaction to the strong odour, such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, and disturbed sleep. Some people are experiencing symptoms due to the hydrogen sulphide gas itself, such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Some people are experiencing mental health issues as a result of how long the odours have been present. The longer that hydrogen sulphide levels are high, the greater the likelihood of symptoms being experienced and the greater the impact on people’s health and wellbeing.
People with health conditions that affect breathing, such as asthma, may be more sensitive to the effects of hydrogen sulphide. This is because hydrogen sulphide can cause irritation of the airways leading to coughing and shortness of breath.
There are different health-based guideline values for short-term exposure (for example, up to 24 hours) and long-term exposure (for example, up to a year or over a lifetime). If short-term and long-term concentrations are below guideline values, they are considered unlikely to pose a risk of direct physical harm.
There is limited evidence from elsewhere available to assess the impacts of prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulphide.
Short‑term symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, watery eyes, stuffy nose, irritated throat, cough or wheeze, sleep problems and stress, that were exacerbated by high levels of odour, are now expected to be less severe and occur less often. This will reduce the impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Whilst the risk to long-term (lifetime) health cannot be excluded, currently this risk is likely to be small and will continue to be so while hydrogen sulphide concentrations remain around the current level.
There is no evidence to suggest that hydrogen sulphide causes cancer in humans.
The NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Talking Therapies Service offers confidential support to people struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, low mood, worry and other mental health and emotional issues. Different therapies are recommended for different problem; these include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and counselling.
The service is open to anyone aged 16 and over who is registered with a Staffordshire/Stoke-on-Trent GP. You can refer yourself into the service and find out more by visiting https://staffsandstoketalkingtherapies.nhs.uk; alternatively call 0300 303 0923.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA, formerly known as Public Health England) advises all residents to:
The EA, Staffordshire County Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and the UKHSA are working together through a Recovery Coordinating Group (RCG) to determine what happens next at the site.
After Walleys Quarry Ltd (WQL) entered Liquidation in February 2025 the Environment Agency (EA) used its discretionary powers to ensure the risk of serious pollution was reduced at the site.
Since then, complaints about odour emissions from the site have fallen to very low levels.
For the latest updates on the Environment Agency’s regulatory activities and timelines visit its website
Further information is available on the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council website.
