Sheffield’s Hidden Legacy: A Toxic Threat Beneath Our Feet?

A concerning investigation has brought to light a potentially hazardous legacy lurking beneath our feet. Analysis by Unearthed reveals that over 100 old landfill sites across England, some containing a cocktail of dangerous substances from heavy metals to persistent pollutants, have flooded at least once this century. This revelation, coupled with the fact that over 2,600 such former dump sites lie within 50 metres of watercourses, should give every Sheffielder cause for concern.

Our city, defined by its rivers and industrial past, is particularly vulnerable. These historic landfills, relics from a time before stringent environmental regulations, often lack the safeguards to prevent pollutants from leaching into the surrounding environment. As Dr David Megson, a scientist with experience in remediating these sites, warns, while many of the 20,000-odd former landfills are likely safe, “some could be quite sinister.” The problem lies in the patchy historical records, leaving us largely in the dark about the exact contents buried beneath these sites.

The increasing threat of global heating and more frequent flooding in Britain amplifies this risk. Professor Kate Spencer from Queen Mary University of London stresses that we haven’t adequately considered the impact of changing weather patterns on old landfills and the potential for pollution they hold. The concern is particularly acute regarding “forever chemicals” like PFAS and PCBs, substances known for their persistence in the environment and links to serious health issues. These chemicals can linger for hundreds, even thousands of years, posing a long-term threat even if they were dumped decades ago.

Dr Paul Brindley from the University of Sheffield overlaid Environment Agency flooding data with the government’s map of historic landfills. He identified the sites that have flooded since the turn of the century. This investigation focused on landfills closed before the mid-1990s environmental protections came into force and those marked as containing potentially harmful waste.

What’s particularly unsettling for communities like ours in Sheffield is the potential proximity of these sites to residential areas and public spaces. Unearthed’s findings indicate that public parks and even housing estates have been built on or alongside former landfills with potentially hazardous contents that have flooded this century. Are residents fully aware of this history?

I downloaded the Government’s list of landfill sites and found over a thousand in our region. I then filtered it to only include sites with “Special” (1) or “liquid sludge” (2) waste and further filtered it to include just those within the City of Sheffield. There were 26 sites, including Chapeltown, High Green (2), Oughtibridge, Parkwood, Grenoside, Handsworth, Tinsley (2), Canklow, Woodhouse Mill, Beighton (3), Langsett, High Bradfield, Rivelin,  Normanton Springs, Unstone, Shirecliffe, Parkwood Springs, Loxley, Deepcar (3) and Ecclesfield. See below for more details) There are many more that just contain “household waste” and are less dangerous but if you are an avid reader of this blog you will be very aware of the dangers of plastic waste. 

The tragic case of Zane Gbangbola, a young boy whose death was caused by Hydrogen Cyanide from a flooded nearby landfill, highlights the potential human cost of this hidden threat. The campaign for ‘Zane’s law’ – advocating for better regulation and remediation of contaminated sites – resonates deeply with the need for greater transparency and action. Natalie Bennett has been championing this Bill in the House of Lords. Last year she said “Zane’s Law seeks to address this contamination crisis by aligning the UK with global best practice for the protection of communities from hazardous land. It would reinstate legislative provisions removed by the Conservative government from the 1990 Environment Protection Act and ensure the UK adheres to the Universal Right to a Healthy Environment, endorsed by the UN in July 2022.”

Currently, the responsibility for managing contaminated land rests with local authorities. However, a significant issue is the erosion of funding for this crucial work. The discontinuation of the Contaminated Land Capital programme in 2017 has left councils, already facing severe financial constraints, in a “reactive approach,” as environmental consultant Dr Grant Richardson explains. “Sites are often only investigated when a problem arises or when land is slated for development, meaning potentially harmful leaching could be going undetected for years.”

Adding to the complexity is a concerning lack of clarity regarding regulatory responsibility. Unearthed’s investigation revealed confusion between local authorities and the Environment Agency about who is actually in charge of monitoring these historic landfills. Furthermore, basic information about these sites is often missing. Many flooded landfills lack a listed licence holder, making accountability and effective management incredibly difficult.

Charles Watson of River Action rightly criticises the defunding of environmental protection, stating that the failure to adequately regulate potentially hazardous landfill sites is “shocking.” He questions the possibility of achieving broader water pollution goals when we struggle to manage the toxic legacy already supposedly “safely” buried.

For Sheffield, a city proud of its green spaces and waterways, this investigation should serve as a wake-up call. We must demand greater transparency about the history of land use in our region and ensure that adequate resources are allocated to identify, monitor, and, where necessary, remediate these potentially hazardous sites. The health of our environment and the well-being of our communities depend on confronting this hidden legacy head-on. Ignoring the potential for toxic secrets beneath our feet is a risk Sheffield cannot afford to take. I have asked questions of our Councillors. All the members of the Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee, including the Chair, Cllr Joe Otten have been contacted. I have also written to the Environment Agency (enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk) and will update you with any responses on TelltheTruthSheffield.org. If you live in one of the communities mentioned I suggest you do likewise. 

Sheffield Landfill Sites that contain “Special” waste and are near a flood-risk area.

Newton Chambers and Company Limited, Thorncliffe Works, Chapeltown, Sheffield

Beighton Road Tip, Woodhouse, Sheffield

GR Stein Refractories Limited, Deepcar Works, Station Road, Deepcar, Near Stocksbridge

Other Sheffield Landfill Sites that contain “Special” waste

Normanton Springs Linley Lane, Sheffield

Sheffield Landfill Sites that contain “Liquid Sludge” waste and are near a flood-risk area

Greaves Lane Tip, High Green, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Parkwood Road / Club Mill Road, Sheffield 3

Grange Lane, Handsworth Sheffield

230 Sheffield Road, Tinsley, Sheffield

Woodhouse Mill Tip, Woodhouse Mill, Sheffield

Brookhouse Works, Beighton, Sheffield

Fox Hagg Farm, Land to the West of Lodge Lane, Rivelin

Douglas / Parkwood Landfill Site, Off Longley Avenue West, Shirecliffe

Parkwood Landfill, Parkwood Springs, Parkwood Road

Myers Lane Tip, Loxley,

Ecclesfield Refuse Disposal Site, Ecclesfield

Beighton Road Tip, Woodhouse

GR Stein Refractories Limited, Deepcar Works, Station Road, Deepcar

Other Sheffield Landfill Sites that contain “Liquid Sludge” waste

Land at Lowfields, High Green, Sheffield

Skew Hill Quarry Grenoside, Sheffield,

Elkington Road Tip, Elkington Road, Beighton

Quarry at Langsett Filter Station, Langsett

Load Field Lane Quarry, Load Field Lane, High Bradfield

British Steel Corporation, Tinsley Park Works, Shepcote Lane,

Sheffield Road, Birchall Farm, Unstone,

Townend Tip, Deepcar

More Hall Tip, Deepcar

Normanton Springs, Linley Lane

Former Quarry off Haggstones Road, Haggstones Road, Oughtibridge, Sheffield

1. Special Waste is defined by the European Hazardous Waste List. Examples of “Special Waste” include asbestos, chemicals, eg brake fluid and printer toner, and electrical equipment with potentially harmful components such as cathode ray tubes – eg computer monitors and televisions. fluorescent light tubes and energy-saving light bulbs. 

2. Liquid sludge waste is a semi-solid or liquid waste material, often a byproduct of wastewater treatment or industrial processes, that contains both solids and liquids. It’s a mixture of various substances, including organic matter, inorganic solids, and water. This type of waste can be found in municipal wastewater treatment plants, industrial facilities, and septic tanks.

Further Reading

Unearthed’s report.

Guardian report

Natalie Bennett in Left Foot Forward

This video is 3 years old but is still completely relevant, especially as the Government are now planning for a massive increase in house building.