SEPA takes action to stop offensive odours from Blantyre site

date13 June 2018

SEPA has issued an enforcement notice to GP Green Recycling Limited following investigations into complaints from members of the public about odours from their composting operations on Newhousemill Road, Blantyre.

  • SEPA has issued an enforcement notice requiring GP Green Recycling Limited to ensure that all emissions from the site are free from offensive odour by 20 July 2018
  • SEPA will not tolerate the unacceptable impact the site is having on local communities

GP Green Recycling Limited undertakes activities such as the composting of co-mingled green waste and food caddy waste arising from domestic collections.

SEPA officers have carried out numerous odour assessments and in April and May found offensive odours from the composting site outside the site boundary and at housing areas in Hamilton and East Kilbride.

The enforcement notice requires the operator to undertake a comprehensive review and report this to SEPA. They must then take remedial actions to ensure the site is compliant with its licence and that all emissions from the site are free from offensive odour by 20 July 2018. The operator is being cooperative and has already committed to taking actions required by the enforcement notice.

Terry A’Hearn, SEPA’s Chief Executive, said:  

Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment, and we are clear that compliance is non-negotiable. SEPA officers have attended the GP Green Recycling site and the surrounding area on a number of occasions to carry out odour assessments in response to complaints from the public.

“We recognise that the site provides an important green recycling service but we will not tolerate the unacceptable impact it is having on local communities in the surrounding area. The improvements required should alleviate the odours from the site, but we will not hesitate to take further action if this does not resolve the odour issues.

“We would advise members of the public to contact our 24-hour Pollution Hotline on 0800 807060 when they are affected by odours and SEPA will investigate.”

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