Dauson Statement: Channel 4 Dispatches
Statement following Channel 4 Dispatches “Rubbish Tip Britain” first broadcast on Friday 21st June 2024
Date: 26th June 2024
Dauson Environmental Group is extremely disappointed with the tone, context, and content of the Channel 4 Dispatches “Rubbish Tip Britain” despite providing comprehensive information to the Production Company before broadcast.
Dauson Environmental Group employs over 250 people across Wales and contributes around £50m every year to the Welsh economy. The value at the core of our business is to clean up the environment, and as a business we are committed to recycling, redevelopment, and regeneration and are proud to provide a significant contribution to the total amount of waste recycling in Wales.
Waste management, by its very nature, is a highly regulated industry. Dauson Environmental Group is committed to maintaining these high standards of environmental management and transparency. We therefore regularly and openly engage with Natural Resources Wales and other appropriate stakeholders.
Withyhedge Landfill Site
Since the purchase of the site in 2022, Dauson Environmental Group has invested over £5m at the site in order to make significant improvements. We are unable to comment on activities relating to the site prior to our ownership. This includes alleged receipt of hazardous medical waste.
We are confident that the issue of odour has been resolved. In consultation with NRW, we have implemented measures to ensure that any odour from the site is minimised and does not affect the surrounding community.
We once again apologise for the impact this has had on local residents and our community.
However, whilst the broadcast stated that Public Health Wales has recently said that “hydrogen sulphide levels had exceeded safe levels”, in fact the levels recorded have only exceeded those associated with odour nuisance, not safety thresholds.
It should also be noted that Public Health Wales’ statement relates to a snapshot from approximately three months ago when samples were tested. Independent sampling and testing has been taking place for some time and we welcome updated sampling and testing to reassure the community.
Having reviewed footage of the alleged leachate leak captured by drone footage, we can advise that this shows a discharge into a containment ditch for surface water collection, and not into a waterway. This was not reported as such in the broadcast.
We understand that NRW is investigating water pollution in the area more generally which is likely to involve a number of local operators as well as other facilities further upstream. It is inappropriate to comment further until the investigation is concluded.
Waste Management
Withyhedge Landfill site does not knowingly accept non-conforming waste. This includes plasterboard, wood, tyres, and metal girders; Our waste acceptance procedures are stringent to prevent such materials from entering our site.
Our leachate is managed in strict accordance with our leachate management plan. We should make clear that the re-circulation of leachate is an accepted practice and not a violation of our permit. In addition, in excess of 35,000 tonnes of leachate has been removed from site in the past 12 months for treatment.
We are not aware of any ongoing inquiry into waste mis-categorisation or tax improprieties; however, we are committed to working with regulators to address any issues that may arise.
It should be noted that the claim in the programme that a typical artic load is between 30 and 40 tonnes is incorrect. The average load weight at our site is between 20 and 25 tonnes.
Drone footage
Dauson Environmental Group categorically denies the allegations of gunshots on our site. We would suggest that the investigators confused the noise with automated ‘bird scarers’ which are deployed on site
Neal Remediation
About Us
Neal Remediation is based at the Dauson HQ in Cardiff and was established in 2018 to provide specialise land reclamation services for national house builders and civil engineering contractors from a geotechnical and geo-environmental perspective.
Typically remediating and preparing brown-field sites, Neal Remediation provide an environmentally clean and geotechnically stable platform for future housing or industrial development; all sites vary but typically remediation consists of bulk earthworks, compaction, soil stabilisation, installation of vertical band drains, ground surcharging and infrastructure works, establishing finished levels alongside bioremediation if required.
Our Services
Bulk Earthworks
Land Remediation
Soil Stabilisation
Infrastructure
Vertical Band Drains
Waste Fuel Production
Bluefield Land
About Us
Bluefield Land is based at the Dauson HQ in Cardiff and has been established since 2004 principally to build-out previously remediated, brown-field sites for social housing and commercial uses.
Having long-established relationships with many of the Housing Associations, Bluefield work closely to design both the sites and properties for the clients’ specific needs; typically, these sites will be both environmentally and geotechnically challenging. As a full turn-key solution, Bluefield will manage all the planning, site formation and infrastructure as well as the hard and soft landscaping and comprehensive energy efficiency measures for the properties.
Our Services
Site Redevelopment
New Build Sites
Refurbishment Work
Building Alterations
Cardiff Demolition
About Us
Cardiff Demolition is based at the Dauson HQ in Cardiff and was originally incorporated in 1956. Cardiff Demolition has an enviable reputation for quality, safety, innovation, and capability and became a member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors in 1965.
Alongside its core business, Cardiff Demolition are also able to complete industrial dismantling, asbestos management, stripping and disposal, high reach, soft strip, tall structures/multi-story, subterranean works, robotic demolition, structural alterations, confined space works and emergency works. With our commitment to Health & Safety, environmental and quality assurance, Cardiff Demolition are Safe Contractor approved alongside membership to SSIP, CHAS, NDTG and Constructionline; in addition, we are proud to have achieved ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.
Our Services
Demolition
Asbestos Removal
Emergency Works
Strip Out
Robotic Demolition
Crushing Services
RML
About Us
Resources Management Ltd were acquired by Dauson in 2022 and operate a materials recycling facility and landfill operation from their site in Haverfordwest.
A long-established business, the site processes various kerbside collected recyclates and non-recyclable materials from several local authorities including Pembrokeshire, as well recyclable, non-recyclable, and residual materials from other third-party customers.
While landfill is always last resort, it is also important to understand that there is no recycling option for certain, hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The site is 1 of only 2 landfill sites remaining in Wales permitted for the acceptance and disposal of asbestos waste; this is conducted in a specially managed and sealed cell within the site and subject to extreme environmental regulation and operational conditions. These operations provide much needed revenue to Welsh Government in the form of landfill tax.
We are pleased to put all the previously deposited landfill waste to good use by capturing the methane which is given off during the decomposition process of the waste; the methane is used to power special gas engines which in turn, generate up to 2.3Mw of green electricity back into the grid.
Our Services
Asbestos Landfill
Non-recyclables collections
Neal Soils
About Us
Neal Soil Suppliers are based at the Dauson HQ in Cardiff and process and recycle traditionally difficult wastes, such as, contaminated soils (hydrocarbons, TPH, PH and metals), road sweepings, and waste water treatment by products.
Neal Soils operate the only permitted hazardous soil Washplant in Wales, where each year c350,000 tonnes are treated. We are currently expanding this facility which will increase our throughput, efficiency and product quality.
Neal Soils also has considerable dry processing capabilities such as crushing and screening to produce quality recycled sands and aggregates which are supplied back into the construction, ready mix, and brick & block manufacturing. Neal Soils operates a large fleet of modern 8 wheel and artic tippers which are utilised on typical muck away operations and/or the distribution of our recycled aggregates; in addition, Neal’s operate a full complement of operated heavy machinery such as excavators, dozers, dump trucks and loading shovels.
Our Services
Crushing & Screening
Grab & Tipper Hire
Waste Disposal
Hazardous Wash Plant
Atlantic Recycling
About Us
At Atlantic Recycling we are leaders in Recycling & Resource Management, providing innovative and sustainable waste management solutions.
Located at the Dauson HQ in Cardiff, Atlantic Recycling operates as a fully authorised waste processing facility, handling approximately 200,000 tonnes of waste annually. Specialising in waste disposal and recycling services, Atlantic caters to a diverse clientele including commercial, industrial, retail, and private households.
Dedicated to environmental sustainability, Atlantic takes pride in its efforts to divert substantial volumes of waste away from landfills. Instead, it processes this waste into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF). These eco-friendly fuels adhere to stringent specifications and find application in heavy industries like steel and cement manufacturing, serving as alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. This transition not only conserves natural resources but also significantly reduces carbon emissions and operational costs for these industries.
Beyond domestic operations, Atlantic extends its impact globally by exporting RDF to Europe. There, it contributes to the production of green electricity in waste-to-energy plants, further promoting renewable energy practices and mitigating environmental harm on an international scale. Waste Management Solutions.
Our Services
Waste Management
Skip & RoRo Hire
Recycling Services
Waste Fuel Production
Dauson aids Wales to 2nd in the World
Dauson Environmental Group Proudly Contributes to National Achievement
5th June 2024
Wales Secures Second Place in Global Recycling Rankings
On June 5th 2024, Wales was officially recognised as the second-best country in the world for recycling, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s environmental efforts. This outstanding achievement is attributed to the collaborative efforts of various organisations, including Dauson Environmental Group and its subsidiary, Neal Soil Suppliers, which emerged as the leading destination for recycling in Wales.
To achieve this, Neal Soil Suppliers has invested in advanced recycling systems, featuring state-of-the-art wash plant facility, to enable the efficient recovery of both hazardous and non-hazardous soil and stone, including municipal street sweeping collections. In addition to this and through its extensive network of partners, Neal Soils exemplifies the closed-loop recycling model, ensuring that new, recovered materials are reintegrated into the supply chain. Remarkably, over 95% of new materials created by Neal Soils are reused within the Southeast Wales locality.
In addition to soil and stone recovery, Dauson Environmental Group extends its recycling solutions through Atlantic Recycling. This subsidiary manages the recycling of diverse materials such as mattresses, plasterboard, and mixed household materials, further contributing to Wales’ recycling achievements
Neal Soils Ranks Top of Wales’ Recycling Destinations
David Neal, Director for Dauson Environmental, expressed his pride in the company’s contribution to Wales’ recycling success.
“As a wholly Welsh, independent company, Dauson Environmental provides a necessary avenue to ensure Welsh material is not only treated in Wales, but new materials are reused in Wales also. We are delighted to be part of the success story of Wales as a world leader in recycling.”
As part of the announcement of Wales’ achievement, Climate Change Cabinet Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies added,
This is excellent news and, with the action we are already taking, we are working towards challenging for the top spot.
In rolling out the successful approach to household recycling to our workplaces, we are also taking action to tackle the climate and nature emergency, while providing important benefits to the economy, by capturing a resilient supply of high-quality recycled materials.
This is so important for Wales because it means capturing high quality recycling that is fed back into the economy and supports creating jobs, with a high percentage staying in Wales and the wider UK for processing.
It also helps us tackle the climate and nature emergencies by reducing our carbon emissions and avoiding the need to extract raw materials with the damage they can bring.
I often talk about a Welsh way of doing things and the team effort which had led to today’s achievement is one should all be rightly proud of – da iawn Cymru!
Dauson Environmental Group has made a significant impact on the national recycling effort, contributing to approximately 5% to Wales’ total recycling volume of 920,000 tonnes. This achievement underscores the vital role that independent, local companies play in supporting Wales’ goal towards a ‘Net Zero Wales’ and we look forward to supporting this agenda with Government and our partners.