Canterbury residents are complaining of a “rotten egg” smell invading the city which is forcing them to keep their windows shut.
The stench is stretching across the north of Canterbury, from Sturry all the way to the University of Kent campus - and is said to be coming from Shelford Landfill.
The non-hazardous landfill site, just off Shalloak Road, emits gases that are then used in engines to produce electricity and power the national grid which offsets carbon emissions and unpleasant smells.
Anna Grace, 21, from St Mildreds, told us: “I’ll sometimes open the window first thing in the morning for some fresh air and instead I’m hit with this horrific smell that makes me want to hurl.
“I remember coming back from Broadstairs with my housemates, and we knew we the moment we entered Canterbury because the smell was that strong.”
Viridor, the firm that operates the landfill, have published a letter to residents, stating that they are aware of the issue and are undertaking additional measures on site to “further control emissions and make progressive improvements.”
Bella Sabin-Dawson, Sustainability Project Officer at the University of Kent, says that the rancid odour is “nothing to worry about” and that the Shelford site is managed by Kent County Council and regulated by the Environment Agency.
She said: “Yes, the smell of rotting eggs is pretty gross, but the gases produced by the landfill are not dangerous to humans or the environment in any way.
“Activities at Shelford Landfill are expected to finish by the end of March. Until then, we have to deal with the occasional eye-watering stench.”
This is not the first time Canterbury has dealt with a rotten egg smell; in 2020, a food waste processing plant in Kings Hill was responsible for producing a similarly nauseating stench.
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