United Kingdom · guide · 25 September 2026
Reading leachate management findings on a CAR
Landfill, waste transfer, and some treatment sites manage leachate — collection trenches, tanks, pumps, and consented discharges. When Environment Agency officers record breaches on a Compliance Assessment Report (CAR), the wording may reference overflow, unconsented discharge, poor maintenance, or missing monitoring. This guide helps operators read leachate-related rows as printed on the form.
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Typical leachate breach descriptions
| On the CAR | Plain-English reading |
|---|---|
| Leachate level above design / overtopping | Storage or collection capacity inadequate at inspection |
| Discharge outside consented route | Disposal path may breach permit schedule |
| Pump / alarm failure not remedied | Infrastructure maintenance finding |
| Monitoring records incomplete | May score under reporting — see monitoring data findings |
| Odour from leachate store | May cross-reference amenity scoring — odour findings |
Link to permit conditions
Leachate limits and management requirements live in permit schedules — collection system design, maximum levels, tank integrity tests, and discharge points. Use linking CAR findings to permit conditions and how to read an environmental permit to open the cited condition table.
Scoring literacy
Each non-compliance row prints a risk category and points under the Compliance Classification Scheme. A contained tank maintenance issue may print as C3; an uncontrolled discharge with foreseeable water impact may reach C2. CARBrief extracts exactly as published — see how to read a CAR.
Actions and deadlines
Officers specify remedial actions and response dates on the CAR — see CAR response deadlines. This guide does not advise on enforcement outcomes — see what happens after a CAR for process literacy only.
Evidence operators typically review
- Leachate level logs and alarm test records for the inspection period.
- Pump maintenance and tank inspection certificates.
- Consignment or discharge records matching permit routes.
- Photos of infrastructure state if disputed.
General record-keeping: what evidence to keep.
Questions
Where do leachate findings appear on a CAR?
Usually under land contamination, discharges to water, or site infrastructure assessed areas — each row cites a permit condition and CCS category.
Is leachate always scored as high impact?
Not automatically. Scoring follows the EA Compliance Classification Scheme for the breach type printed — CARBrief quotes categories as shown, we do not re-score.
Does CARBrief design leachate systems?
No. We read published CAR and permit wording into briefs. Engineering design is for your consultant.
See the sample page Order a brief
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