Residents in Knowsley continue to endure the 'foul' odour coming from an illegal waste site, nearly 11 months on, but things could be about to change. Tens of thousands of tonnes of heavy duty rubbish still remains after being dumped on a field in Kirkby.
The ECHO understands that it is near junction four on the M57 and A580, and that it has not yet had any of the rubbish removed from the site since being discovered in December 2025. The dumped waste has been described as an act of "utterly shocking and organised criminal activity".
One of the largest illegal waste dumps in the UK
With around 30,000 tonnes of rubbish, the site is one of the largest illegal waste dumps ever found in the UK. On October 27, Knowsley Council issued an update on the level of 'hazardous' waste found at the Kirkby site.
A spokesperson said: "The Environment Agency (EA) are the body responsible for assessing the environmental risks of this site. The results of their sampling have been shared with the council only in the past few days, and show that the waste comprises a mixed range of materials, including plastics, wood, paper, textiles, metals, glass and other inert materials."
"As would be expected for a large mixed waste deposit like this, some materials have been classified as hazardous under waste classification rules, primarily due to the presence of oils and certain metals. [EA] have informed us that the results of their sampling do not indicate any direct risk to nearby residents. Further testing, including water sampling, is due to take place and the site is being regularly monitored."
Government intervention considered
Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley confirmed on social media on November 11 that the Kirkby site will be considered for government intervention. She said: "Last week, I organised a meeting with Angela Eagle (Secretary of State for Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The SoS (Secretary of State) agreed to consider the case for clearing it alongside the worst sites. I won't stop until this site and Simonswood are dealt with once and for all."
For years the "Simonswood Stink" has also been blighting residents in Knowsley and on the border of Bickerstaffe, West Lancashire. Tied to the site of Simonswood Industrial Estate (SIE), a "rotten egg" and "sewage" stink has been a long-term issue for residents in the area, with numerous complaints submitted to the EA.
The EA officially revoked the environmental permit of Windmill Services Ltd, the company operating on the site, and shut down the illegal waste sites on March 23, 2026.
Council leader calls for prioritised clearance
Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, said: "Anneliese Midgley MP and I had a productive meeting with the Secretary of State, during which we both set out our clear case for the Knowsley site to be prioritised for clearance as soon as possible. Angela Eagle has committed to carefully considering the case we put forward and we hope to have a positive outcome for the residents of Knowsley soon."
The announcement follows news of a £4.8m clean up operation started at a 18,000-tonne illegal toxic waste dump in Wigan. Work to clear the waste on the site in Bickershaw is expected to take months to clear. A week-long blaze in July, 2025 saw tonnes of waste go up in flames, releasing hazardous fumes and forcing schools to shut. The ECHO understands that the site lies within Andy Burnham's Makerfield constituency.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was approached for comment.
