Gilberdyke landfill in the East Riding of Yorkshire has reached its maximum capacity limit and will stop accepting general waste from 1 January 2013.

The Environment Agency (EA) has now revised the landfill’s operating permit, which will mean that the site’s operators, City Plant Ltd, will only be allowed to tip inert substances, such as capping soils, at the site in order to seal the tip for restoration. It is expected this will be completed by November 2013.

City Plant Ltd has now submitted several proposals to the EA for consideration, including extending the size of the site and installing gas engines in order to produce electricity from landfill gas.

Environment Manager Peter Stevenson said: "This is a significant milestone in the lifecycle of the landfill site at Gilberdyke. Once capping begins in January, no more general waste will be allowed, and that means any problems of odour or unsightliness of the waste will be reduced in time.

"Ultimately we are looking forward to seeing the site entirely finished, with the surface restored to its natural state, and that goal is now in sight.

"We will of course continue to work closely with City Plant Ltd, East Riding of Yorkshire Council (EYRC) and local residents to ensure that the tip is managed appropriately and that it has minimal impact on the local environment and community."

The site is not used for EYRC household waste but it has been a source of contention amongst local residents, who have repeatedly complained to the council regarding smells emanating from the tip as well as the amount of heavy duty vehicles using the road system and causing traffic. Residents have also now started a petition to object to the operator’s plans to extend the site.

East Riding Councillor, Paul Robinson, representing Howdenshire, believes the application should be rejected. Writing in his blog, Robinson said: ‘The application by City Plant Ltd for the Gilberdyke Landfill site… is in many respects a retrospective application because the tip is almost full, to levels way above the presently consented height. The application seeks to regularise the current levels, change the landscaping plans, install electricity generators to utilise the landfill gas, and try to sort out the surface water run-off.

‘City Plant Ltd has been cynical in how they have played the system and the ERYC and the Environment Agency have been powerless to stop the blatant disregarding of planning conditions by the company… [H]ow the site is finished and left is of critical importance and in my opinion the application has serious flaws.

‘It is now time for the EYRC and the EA to work closely together to ensure the tip is left safe for years to come, and not create on-going problems for the communities of Gilberdyke and Newport.’