The Environment Agency, which served a notice to Shanks on Friday (April 17), is investigating the Sowerby Woods site over “non-compliance” with permit requirements and is working with the company to improve long-term odour performance.
The plant will be closed for between six and eight weeks while Shanks improves the site’s bio-filter, which eliminates odours from the treatment hall.
Operations at the 75,000 tonnes-per-year capacity plant were previously put on hold in August 2013, when Shanks temporarily closed the MBT due to a fly infestation (see letsrecycle.com story).
At the time, the company suspended deliveries of waste for around three weeks while the facility was cleared and disinfected to prevent the flies from breeding – which had become a nuisance to other businesses in the area.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by the North West Evening Mail found that 5,553 tonnes of waste was sent to landfill during the three week suspension – costing the plant almost £500,000.
Commenting on the suspension last week, Catherine Evans, Environment Agency Waste Team leader, said: “The Environment Agency protect and improve the environment and human health by regulating effectively and efficiently. We regulate the waste treatment plant at Barrow to ensure the site complies with its environmental permit.
“Environmental permits are required if a business manages or produces waste or emissions that pollute the air, water or land. We are currently investigating non-compliance at the site and are working with the company to improve performance.”
Hespin Wood
Shanks has meanwhile confirmed that it has been diverting waste from the site to its Hespin Wood MBT facility near Carlisle since last Monday (April 13), while the remainder will be sent to landfill.
Opened in 2011, the Hespin Wood MBT is identical to the Barrow facility – with both plants developed as part of Shanks’ 25-year, £700 million waste disposal contract with Cumbria county council (see letsrecycle.com story).
Peter Eglinton, managing director of Shanks’ Municipal Division, commented: “Our overwhelming priority is responsible operation of our sites and to ensure good long term odour performance. We regret the brief inconvenience to our customers and the need to divert some waste to landfill while we make these changes. We expect to be in full operation within eight weeks and to return to our high levels of customer service and waste diversion going forward.”
Concerns
A Cumbria county council spokesperson added: “We are aware of the current concerns raised by the Environment Agency and we are being kept informed of the situation and the alternative waste disposal arrangements Shanks is putting into place.
“It is essential that waste facilities are fully compliant with environmental regulations and we would expect any contractor delivering a service on behalf of the council to satisfy all the necessary operational requirements.”
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