Bexley has one of the highest numbers of toxic landfills in the country with six 'potentially hazardous' locations mapped across the borough, new research has revealed.
With an ever-increasing level of waste needing to be disposed of in the UK, there are thousands of landfill sites dotted across the country.
Some are more hazardous than others, with some housing material which make them what are being described as "toxic timebombs," and new data has revealed that certain districts and boroughs actually have a lot more of these toxic landfills than others.
The research was carried out by Uswitch.com, who utilised the Government's Environment Agency data on the 1,286 landfill sites with potentially hazardous waste in England and Wales.
It revealed that Bexley has a total of six 'toxic' landfills in its boundaries, with toxic meaning they would pose a risk to human health and the environment if they were to escape.
The south east London has a total district area of 64.32km², which means there is a toxic landfill every 10.72km², the tenth highest rate in the country.
A recent investigation from ENDS Report actually mapped all 1,287 landfill sites containing hazardous waste.
The six in Bexley can all be found between Barnehurst, Erith and Slade Green at Wessex Drive, Chesworth Close, Twigg Close, Myrtle Close, Colyers Lane and Bridge Road.
Sandwell in the West Midlands was found to have the highest proportion of toxic landfills per km² (one site for every 6.11km²), according to the comparison and switching service.
The only other local representative on the list was Dartford, home to five toxic landfills, and its rate of one per 15.26km² is the 19th highest in England and Wales.
Walsall came in second highest with a toxic landfill every 6.93km², whilst Salford had the third highest proportion with 12 toxic landfills over 97.2km², one every 8.1km².
The county in England with the most toxic landfills overall was Greater Manchester with 94 sites in the district. London was in ninth with 33.
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