A landfill site in Glasgow's east end that has been creating smells so bad locals can't open their windows has had its permit partially suspended.
SEPA has been carrying out regular odour assessments of the area near Paterson’s of Greenoakhill in Broomhouse following hundreds of complaints over the last few months.
Odour from the landfill has been impacting the local community for several years with SEPA using a range of enforcement powers in a bid to tackle it. Despite the company being fined £6,200 in December, the problem has persisted with 800 complaints lodged by locals since Christmas Eve.
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Odour assessments throughout January have now resulted in SEPA partially suspending the operator’s Pollution Prevention and Control Permit to prohibit the ongoing landfilling of non-hazardous waste.
The measure means that the operator can't accept any more non-hazardous waste for landfill onto the site until they have "assessed, identified and implemented all necessary measures to ensure that its waste operations are carried out without offensive odours being detectable beyond its site boundary".
A statement by SEPA outlines: "This enforcement measure requires the operator to identify and implement all necessary measures to ensure that waste operations are carried out so that offensive odours are not detected beyond the site.
"Local residents are unlikely to notice an immediate reduction in odour impact as there will be both short- and longer-term steps required to be taken by the operator to ensure that ongoing odour management is effective."
"SEPA officers will continue to carry out assessments in the affected areas.
"We ask that anyone who continues to experience offensive odour, which is impacting them and their amenity, notifies SEPA via our online form."
David Linden, Glasgow East MP, welcomed the news of action being taken against the company.
He added: "I warmly welcome the news that the landfill site operated by Paterson's of Greenoakhill Ltd in my constituency has had its permit partially suspended by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)."
"This operation has long blighted the communities of Broomhouse and Mount Vernon and in recent weeks I have had reports from constituents living as far as Parkhead that the offensive odour emanating from the site is being noticed there."
"As a long-time supporter of community efforts to put a stop to the landfill operation, I am delighted with this news of the serious and decisive action taken by SEPA."
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