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Children at Risk

30th May 2007

Children that trespass on landfill sites are putting their lives at risk!

That's the warning from national landfill operator, Biffa, which has recently caught children swimming in surface water lagoons and breaking through perimeter fencing to ride motorbikes at a number of its landfill facilities.

'We are making every effort to warn people about the danger these children are putting themselves in and we have fencing and warning signs around the boundary off our sites. Unfortunately, whilst we make every effort to keep these in a good state of repair, they are often vandalised and damaged.'

'These lagoons on site can be very deep and cold,' said Biffa closed sites manager Peter Lunt. 'They can also have steep sides and there's a very real risk that someone will drown if they use these pools for swimming or if they fall in whilst fishing.'

'We would urge parents to do all they can to keep children away from these sites.'

'With the school half term holidays approaching and the summer holidays just a few months away, we want parents to be aware of the dangers these children are in if they continue to trespass at our landfills.'

For their own safety and the safety of others Biffa, in conjunction with the local authorities, will be taking appropriate action on any unauthorised persons found on their premises.