Leachate management

Leachate is a liquid (mainly rainwater) that collects at the bottom of landfilled waste. As it has been in contact with decomposing waste, the liquid must be managed and disposed of carefully.

At Welbeck, leachate is removed via a sophisticated pipework collection system in the tipping areas and pumped to a lagoon on the southern side of the site.  It is then piped to the Wakefield Sewage Treatment Works under a discharge consent with Yorkshire Water Services.

Additionally, two or more permanent chambers are constructed at the lowest point of each cell to sample and monitor the level of leachate in the waste.  These levels are regularly monitored to ensure that they remain within the levels set by the Environmental Permit and regulated by the Environment Agency.