MoreThanWaste.com - High profile issue of permit for Staffordshire rendering plant. (09/10/2006)

The Environment Agency has taken the unusual step of issuing a press release related to the issue of a PPC permit and has taken a variety of steps in terms of present and future public consultation. The application has clearly been controversial.

It has granted a permit to John Pointon and Sons Ltd under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (PPC) to operate their rendering plant. This took effect on 3 October 2006 and means that the Environment Agency is now responsible for regulating the activities on the site.

The Agency consulted local people when John Pointon and Sons first applied for a PPC permit, and again when a draft decision was made. The regulatory body says that this was to make sure that it was taking local concerns fully into account. Public bodies such as Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and the Health Protection Agency were also consulted.

Residents have pointed out to the Agency the history of smell problems associated with the site. Specific conditions are said to have been included in the permit requiring John Pointon and Sons to prevent or minimise odour from the site activities and putting limits on odour at the site boundary. The company is also required to make further improvements, including producing and following an Odour Management Plan which will have to be approved by the Agency in advance. The conditions of a PPC permit are of course legally binding.

The Agency has written to the people who live near the plant to make sure that everyone is aware of its 24-hour emergency hotline, 0800 80 70 60, so that if they have any problems with smell or noise from the site they can phone in.

The Agency also indicates that it has no powers over lorry traffic or smells from lorries on the public road, which has been a problem for local people in the past. This is a matter for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

In the future the Environment Agency hopes to be part of a liaison group with local residents where it can report back on the progress made to improve processes at the plant and review the performance of the company in dealing with complaints from the public.


	High profile issue of permit for Staffordshire rendering plant. (09/10/2006) The Environment Agency has taken the unusual step of issuing a press release related to the issue of a PPC permit and has taken a variety of steps in terms of present and future public consultation. The application has clearly been controversial. It has granted a permit to John Pointon and Sons Ltd under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (PPC) to operate their rendering plant. This took effect on 3 October 2006 and means that the Environment Agency is now responsible for regulating the activities on the site. The Agency consulted local people when John Pointon and Sons first applied for a PPC permit, and again when a draft decision was made. The regulatory body says that this was to make sure that it was taking local concerns fully into account. Public bodies such as Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and the Health Protection Agency were also consulted. Residents have pointed out to the Agency the history of smell problems associated with the site. Specific conditions are said to have been included in the permit requiring John Pointon and Sons to prevent or minimise odour from the site activities and putting limits on odour at the site boundary. The company is also required to make further improvements, including producing and following an Odour Management Plan which will have to be approved by the Agency in advance. The conditions of a PPC permit are of course legally binding. The Agency has written to the people who live near the plant to make sure that everyone is aware of its 24-hour emergency hotline, 0800 80 70 60, so that if they have any problems with smell or noise from the site they can phone in. The Agency also indicates that it has no powers over lorry traffic or smells from lorries on the public road, which has been a problem for local people in the past. This is a matter for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. In the future the Environment Agency hopes to be part of a liaison group with local residents where it can report back on the progress made to improve processes at the plant and review the performance of the company in dealing with complaints from the public.