Nantmel Landfill Site

The 8.5ha site was constructed in a valley, with the stream piped underneath and the waste lain on top, forming the present day dome shape, characteristic of many landfills. Unlike modern landfills, which are impermeably sealed with geomembranes, Nantmel was engineered without effective base and cap layers, for instance subsoil from a local road-widening scheme was used instead of a liner. Intended to be reclaimed for pastoral purposes, the site was fenced, but the availability of higher quality pasture in the surrounding fields led to little interest from farmers. Without the compaction and grazing by farm animals, the plants and topsoil became low quality, and the intention now appears to…