EA promotes waste facility updates to public

The Environment Agency has launched an updated internet page on waste sites with the aim of giving more public information about the various stages in approvals and permitting for new waste facilities.

Describing the facilities, either proposed or completed, as of high public interest, the Agency names the individual facility and then gives the date of the latest update to the information provided.

Facilities covered include metal recycling sites, energy from waste facilities, composting sites, landfills and other forms of infrastructure.

A number of progress reports were published in May and reflect the public interest in the sites. Most appear to show that the Agency is taking some form of action or is processing applications for developments.

EMR

One example of where the Agency is requiring a company to act over a particular issue, is noise at the European Metal Recycling site in Sharpness, Gloucestershire. The Agency describes how in September 2011, we began to receive repeated complaints of noise being generated by the site. We met with EMR on 16 May 2012 and discussed their latest NMP and proposed methods for reducing the impact of noise.

The Agency then explains that its noise experts have produced a report on the findings of EMRs noise management plan and are meeting to further discuss it. The Agency notes: In the meantime, we have instructed EMR to consider as many ways to reduce the impact of noise from their site as possible.

Agrivert

On a more positive note (updated May 31 2012), the Agency reports on the Agrivert composting site in Ardley, Oxfordshire. It says that management of the site is improving and we have not had any odour complaints so far this year. We are currently using our regulatory powers to ensure that Agrivert are making the appropriate changes to reduce the amount of waste they have on site and improve the way in which in which they manage the process.

The Agency states: We have rejected the most recent revision of the Odour Management Plan (March 2012). However, we are continuing to work with Agrivert on an improved plan. Regardless of the status of a formal OMP, we still expect Agrivert to manage the site appropriately to manage odour throughout the process.