A waste management company operating a recycling and composting facility in Keady, County Armagh, has been issued with an enforcement notice after inspectors found that waste stored at the site substantially exceeded permitted levels.
Natural World Products (NWP) operates the facility and was found to have breached environmental rules during site inspections carried out by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) this year. A report in September identified an additional 6,500 to 7,000 tonnes of waste on the site.
The enforcement notice is legally binding. It was issued by the NIEA after the agency concluded that the amount of waste being stored was well above the limit set out in the site management plan.
Odour concerns raised by nearby residents
The NIEA also criticised the company over odour from the facility. The agency said the smell had reached a level “likely to cause annoyance outside the site”, while residents living nearby had reported ongoing and increased odour complaints.
The odour has reportedly been at that level since January this year. The issue has been the subject of campaigning by residents and frequent discussion on social media.
According to the enforcement notice, problems with the building were affecting the site’s odour-control systems. The NIEA identified “a sizeable gap beneath the roller doors” and “damage to cladding on the upper walls of the building”.
The agency said those defects reduced the effectiveness of odour containment and negative-pressure systems, increasing the risk of smells escaping from the facility.
Waste levels and bird activity highlighted
The notice requires NWP to reduce the amount of waste and compost stock held at the site so that it falls within the permitted storage limits. The NIEA said this was necessary to help reduce the odour.
Inspectors also raised concerns about pest control after observing a high volume of scavenging birds at the facility. The agency said elevated bird activity suggested that waste-handling and pest-control measures were not being implemented effectively, creating a risk of nuisance and environmental pollution.
“The presence of elevated bird activity indicates that waste handling and pest control measures are not being implemented effectively and presents a risk of nuisance and environmental pollution,”
the NIEA said in the enforcement notice.
The notice warns that failure to comply could result in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs taking enforcement proceedings itself to bring the site into line with environmental regulations.
Company response
NWP said it was working constructively with the relevant authorities to address a backlog of in-process material at the Keady facility. The company attributed the operational challenges to severe weather earlier this year.
“NWP is working constructively with relevant authorities to address a backlog of in-process material at its facility in Keady, County Armagh, following operational challenges caused by severe weather earlier this year.”
The company said it was committed to resolving the issues identified by the NIEA and continuing to provide sustainable, long-term waste management services to local authorities.
“The company is committed to resolving the issues outlined by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and continuing to deliver sustainable, long-term waste management services to local authorities.”