The document has been issued by the Agency to give internal guidance to provide officers with a national approach to the control of odour at waste facilities, this will be done through the licensing system and the subsequent monitoring of any odours produced.
The guidance on the “Regulation of Odour at Waste Management Facilities under Waste Management Licences” proposes that all new licence applications are assessed with regard to odours via a risk assessment provided by the operator. The impact of odour on the surrounding environment will also be considered as part of routine site inspections and guidance will be given to make sure that plant operators have sufficient training so that odour can be controlled at source.
The consultation aims to identify any anticipated pitfalls in the guidance and to determine its relevance to the practicalities of monitoring and regulating licensed waste management facilities. The Agency hopes that the paper will assess the adequacy of the proposals to address odour monitoring and assessment, the application of existing regulation as an approach to odour control and technical limitations to achieving the aims of the guidance.
Steve Lee, head of waste at the Environment Agency, said: “Bulk quantities of waste have the potential to generate offensive odours – especially where the waste is stored for long periods of time or permanently deposited. Landfill sites are particularly important in this respect – especially where they are located close to local communities.
Together with a thorough licensing system and stringent monitoring, the guidance will help the Agency to tackle the issues associated with offensive odours from waste. This will form an important strengthening of our protection of people and the environment from the effects of waste management.”
The full consultation document can be viewed at the Environment Agency's website.
The consultation exercise is being managed on behalf of the Agency by Mike Bland, Consultation Co-ordinator, Mott MacDonald Limited, St Anne House
Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2UL email:
mjb@mm-croy.mottmac.com
Responses should be sent by November 9.
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