Environment watchdog agrees first enforcement undertaking over odours
The Environment Agency has for the first time accepted an enforcement undertaking (EU) for alleged permit breaches relating to odour at an installation.
The watchdog agreed the EU with Renewi UK Services Ltd, formerly Shanks Waste Management Ltd, after the company was suspected of causing odours, following a history of odour complaints.
The site on Sowerby Woods Industrial Estate, Barrow-in-Furness, is one of two in Cumbria which takes the county’s municipal waste.
Local businesses and residents had complained of being affected by odours from the site since 2014.
These reports were investigated by the Environment Agency and the operator has subsequently put additional measures in place to minimise the impact of odour.
The Environment Agency may, when it is in the public interest, accept an EU from an operator rather than prosecuting them for an offence.
It said: “EUs allow those who are suspected of committing offences to restore the environment and to take steps to prevent a recurrence. When appropriate, they allow a quicker resolution than a prosecution and help offenders who are prepared to take responsibility for their actions to put things right voluntarily, working with their local environment.”
The operator has also donated £60,000 to a local environmental charity.
Claire Westgarth, Environment Agency Installations Team Leader, said: “This is the first time an EU has been accepted for alleged permit breaches relating to odour at an installation, which is a huge achievement.
“Since the operator invested and addressed the issues on site the reduction in odour has been noted by local businesses. Whilst a site like this may never be completely free of odour, we are really pleased with the outcome for the local community.”
She added that the agency had been receiving more EU offers since they became available in 2015. “We assess and accept them where the offer adequately addresses the offending and restores and benefits the environment.”
