A PROBE into landfill sites in England and Wales showed more than 1,000 were not up to scratch – but those in the Ipswich area were branded "satisfactory.

A PROBE into landfill sites in England and Wales showed more than 1,000 were not up to scratch – but those in the Ipswich area were branded "satisfactory."

More than half the 2,264 landfill sites in England and Wales fail to comply with waste management conditions, according to an Environment Agency report.

However, landfill sites in Great Blakenham, Bramford and Foxhall have not given rise to concern.

Marcus Sibley, Environment manager for Suffolk, said: "We are inspecting on a fairly regular basis and have been satisfied with the performance of the sites in the Ipswich area.

"Obviously in assessing compliance there could be other factors involved such as weather, for example the wind blowing litter up the street or mud on the roads caused by the rain.

Friends of the Earth urged the Government to take action after the study showed 56 per cent of landfill sites assessed are failing to comply with licence conditions.

A total of 14 per cent are no where near compliance. But Mr Sibley said the report showed Suffolk has an average performance.

Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth's waste campaigner, said: "Communities living near landfills won't be surprised to hear that most sites in England and Wales are failing to meet their licence conditions.

"Many already suffer the misery of smell, noise and pollution on a daily basis.

"The Government must do more to protect the public from poorly managed landfills by providing the Environment Agency with the resources it needs to force these sites to comply with the rules.

"Those that fail should be heavily fined."

He added the Government should do promote recycling.

A Private Member's bill to ensure every household has access to a doorstep recycling service will be discussed in Parliament early next year.

WEBLINK: www.environment-agency.gov.uk