Three Rivers has one of most 'toxic' landfills in England

There are thousands of landfill sites across the country as the UK tries to dispose a high number of waste.

Some are more hazardous than others, but some have been found containing "hazardous waste" which could potentially pose a health risk to the people and environment in the surrounding areas.

In fact, data from the Environment Agency shows that Hertfordshire was also the fourth county in England with the most toxic landfills.

There are nine toxic landfills in Three Rivers, with an equivalent of one landfill every 9.87 square kilometre in the area.

According to comparison site Uswitch.com, the district does however rank eight in the top ten areas in England with the most landfills.

Bury in Suffolk is just below Three Rivers, with there being an equivalent of one landfill every 9.95 square kilometre in the area.

In comparison, the district with the most toxic landfills is Sandwell in West Midlands – with 14 total landfills and an equivalent of one landfill every 6.11 square kilometre in the area.

A recent investigation from ENDS Report actually mapped all 1,287 landfill sites containing hazardous waste.

In Three Rivers, four of the nine landfills can be seen just by the Grand Union Canal near Moor Lane.

The dots indicate where ENDS Report found toxic landfills

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The shockingly high number of toxic landfills scattered across the country highlights the variety of problems these landfills can cause.

“It is down to the local authorities to help identify them and organise a clean-up. Some of these older landfills haven’t been lined before the waste was deposited, unlike modern landfills, which means that the chemicals can escape.

With the added support and funding from the government we will be able to stop any nasty surprises that could be coming our way.”