Re-opening of Hartlouphill Landfill Site

Issued on 27 October 1998 - Ref W981004

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has lifted the suspension of disposal activities at the Hartlouphill Landfill Site, near Greengairs operated by Caird Environmental Ltd.

SEPA suspended the Waste Management Licence on 13 October following problems with the tip leachate management system and odours emanating from the site.

SEPA is satisfied that an acceptable leachate management system is now in place at the site to address previous problems. Recent inspections have also confirmed the site has had no significant odour problems since the licence was suspended.

This is due to actions taken to improve the reliability of the landfill gas flaring system, together with the control of odour from leachate.

SEPA will continue to monitor operations to ensure the operator conforms to the conditions of the Waste Management Licence. In the event of any serious pollution problems recurring then SEPA retains its right to take any action it deems appropriate.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Serious problems, notably smell nuisance, were experienced at this landfill site for several months. SEPA served a final warning letter on the company at the end of June and since the problems continued, an enforcement notice was served in July requiring the company to take certain steps to prevent pollution. Despite extensive remedial measures being carried out by the operator during the last three months, smell emissions continued to cause offence to the neighbouring residents. In SEPA’s opinion, the operator failed to meet the necessary standards required of such sites, resulting in the issuing of suspension notices. The licence was suspended on 13 October with two suspension notices:

• the first precluded any disposal activity under the licence and was based on failure to comply with an earlier notice which told the operator to provide a tip leachate management system to SEPA’s satisfaction. This suspension would only be lifted once SEPA is satisfied that an appropriate leachate management system is in place.

• the second was a partial suspension of the disposal activities under the licence on the grounds of serious pollution, allowing the site to accept only uncontaminated soil, brick and concrete rubble. The serious pollution related to offensive odours emanating from the site. This suspension would only be lifted once these odours have been controlled to SEPA’s satisfaction.

SEPA has received numerous justifiable complaints from local residents over the past few months concerning the odour problem at the site.

The Hartlouphill site has been in operation since 1991 when Monklands District Council granted a Waste Disposal Licence for the deposit of household, industrial and commercial waste. SEPA took over as the waste regulation authority in April 1996.

SEPA Press Office contacts

SEPA West Region Press Contacts
Public Relations Officer: Alison Hay. Tel: 01355 574226 Mobile 0467 325226
Email: alison.hay@sepa.org.uk

SEPA Head Office Press Contacts
SEPA Public Affairs team- Direct telephone numbers: 01786 457723/4 Fax: 01786 448040

SEPA Head Office, Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, STIRLING FK9 4TR
Tel: 01786 457700 Fax: 01786 448040

Contact SEPA Head Office Public Affairs at publicrelations@sepa.org.uk

© SEPA 1998