Grantham-based Mid UK Recycling was told to cease composting operations by the Environment Agency last week, following complaints from local residents concerning odours emanating from the site.
” I believe that many composters will have to start looking at under cover sites, much like those used in Germany, because the temperature in the UK is becoming too hot.“
– Chris Mountain
Prior to the suspension notice, Mid UK had taken some measures in order to counter the smells coming from the site after an initial notice from the Agency. This included fitting an odour abatement system – similar to those used at landfill sites – as well as reducing the volume of green waste coming onto the site and installing wind socks and temperature gauges.
But the came too late to avoid the suspension notice, and now Mid UK will not be able to fully test its new equipment until it has discussed the situation with the Environment Agency further.
Cover
Chris Mountain, the company's managing director, told letsrecycle.com that the future of Mid UK Recycling's composting – along with many other similar companies – may now lie under cover.
“We are hugely disappointed to have received this order, especially after the work we put in over the last three weeks to fix the problem,” said Mr Mountain. “But I believe that you have to take positives from these things, and the positive is that we may have to look at covering in the future.
“In fact, I believe that many composters will have to start looking at under cover sites, much like those used in Germany, because the temperature in the UK is becoming too hot.
“If you have green waste sitting in a wheeled bin for two weeks at 80 degrees it isn't going to be pleasant, but we don't want to affect the nearby community, and going under cover may be the best way to deal with that,” Mr Mountain added.
48 hours
Mr Mountain also said that once the site gets past the suspension order and is working as normal again, it would have a policy of shredding all green waste within 48 hours of entering the site.
Mid UK's other operations, including plastic, wood and aggregates recycling, have not been affected by the Agency suspension order.
Subscribe for free