The Environment Agency is promising further action after work to stop foul smells from the Trigon Hill landfill site wafting across Wareham in Dorset, has proved ineffective.
The Wareham Smell, which has been making locals feel ill since the start of 2026 was supposed to have been sent packing before Easter – but it is continuing to get worse.
The active Trigon Hill landfill site is visited daily by dozens of lorries bringing new loads of waste
Smell like rotting eggs
The hydrogen sulphide fumes, which smell like rotten eggs and can be a serious health hazard, have persisted and as summer approaches there are growing concerns about the effects of the noxious smells from the Trigon Hill landfill.
As early as January 2026, residents in Wareham, Sandford, Northport and Holton Heath in Dorset, raised concerns about odours from the active landfill site which they described as like manure or rotting eggs and causing nausea, migraines and sickness.
Within weeks, more than 300 residents had complained to the Environment Agency, Dorset Council, and Wareham Town Council.
It led to the Environment Agency making a February site visit to Trigon Hill landfill, sited on the Bere Regis road near the former Silent Woman pub.
The escaping gas was identified as hydrogen sulphide and Valencia Waste Management, the company which runs Trigon Hill, installed 35 gas collection wells to collect the gas underground, to be burned off at the onsite turbines to produce power.
But over the Easter weekend, and as temperatures climbed to nearly 20 degrees Centigrade on Wednesday 8th April 2026, it was reported that the smell was only getting worse.
The Environment Agency has ordered Valencia Waste Management to install 35 underground gas collection chambers
“Further reports of odour this week”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said:
“We were first made aware of odour issues at the end of February and after the initial complaints, we carried out an inspection of Trigon Hill landfill and required Valencia Waste Management to improve its gas collection infrastructure.
“Following this, the operator installed 35 gas wells to capture emissions from the site, but unfortunately, we have continued to receive further reports of odour this week.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will be inspecting the site later in April to assess whether further improvements are required.
“We feel that no community should have to tolerate odours and we will take appropriate action to address this.”
Valencia Waste Management has previously apologised for inconvenience caused and said it was committed to operating the Trigon landfill site in accordance with planning requirements and was working with the Environment Agency.
The entrance to Trigon Hill Landfill near Wareham
“I thought I may vomit if I breathed in”
Wareham resident Ingrid Whittingdale said:
“We have been noticing this toxic gas smell in Wareham intermittently since January and it is getting worse. Residents have complained of headaches, nausea and in some cases vomiting and respiratory symptoms.
“My 10 year old son has been experiencing unexplained headaches and I wonder if this could be linked. Before Easter the strong smell was noticed at Sandford St Martin’s primary school where my son attends, even inside the school!
“Residents as far away as Wool and Holton Heath have noticed it, and drivers have smelt it strongly on the A35 between Bere Regis and Lytchett.
“At one point it was so bad that I had to cover my face on a three minute walk in Sandford as I thought I may vomit if I breathed in the air.
“Valencia Waste management originally since said that there was a power outage that day at the site which prevented them from containing these gases, while the Environment Agency said it was connected to different atmospheric pressures.
The Trigon Hill landfill site is operated by national company Valencia
“I want reassurance”
Ingrid added:
“This angered residents because it wasn’t acknowledging that it has been going on since January!
“Residents want to know when this will stop. The Environment Agency has not given a timeframe, they just say as soon as possible and when I asked environmental health at Dorset Council they didn’t know.
“We are heading for summer and it will be horrendous if it is not resolved before it gets warmer. I have also asked the Environment Agency to give me details of what measures they have in place for continuous air quality monitoring.
“They have said that the gas is at safe levels for humans, but I want reassurance that they are measuring the gas levels at night when they are at their worst and in all reported locations.”
Wareham Quay is popular with tourists in summer, but there are growing concerns about the continued pong
“We can’t be the only ones leaving”
As the stink continued throughout early April 2026, visitor Catherine Lancaster said:
“I came to Wareham with a friend last weekend to have lunch and a walk along Bestwall Park. The moment we opened the car doors in Sainsbury’s car park, we were hit by a stench best described as some horrid onion stew multiplied by a hundred.
“I immediately felt nauseous. We didn’t hang around and drove back home to Stoborough, all windows open in the car to dispel the disgusting smell, and took ourselves for lunch elsewhere and walked to Arne instead.
“We can’t be the only ones leaving Wareham in great haste and spending our money elsewhere.
“Apart from the disgusting smell and health hazard, this will surely lose visitor revenue for Wareham as the tourist season arrives.”
Further information
- Residents are being urged to report the smell on the Government website
