The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is to take enforcement action, by serving a prohibition notice against Sacone Environmental Ltd, after receiving numerous complaints last night (8 October 2001) about smell and smoke nuisance at their plant in Carntyne, Glasgow.

SEPA officers visited the site immediately after receiving the first couple of complaints, and witnessed smoke coming from the stack and noticed odour from the process. The officers started an investigation into the cause of the pollution, ordering the plant to cease its commissioning process immediately. SEPA intends to serve a prohibition notice on the company this afternoon, effectively stopping the commissioning process until investigations and any improvements required are complete. SEPA will be speaking with Sacone to identify the source of the problems and identify which of the conditions set down for commissioning have been breached. SEPA are also considering whether to take further enforcement action against the company for breach of authorised conditions.

Leighanne Moir, Lead Officer (Incineration) for SEPA South West, said: “SEPA have been closely monitoring the commissioning of the plant and have set down the conditions under which we expect the plant to operate. After visiting the site in response to residents complaints, smoke and smell was noticed coming from the plant in spite of these conditions. Enforcement action will now be taken against the company to allow us to carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of last nights problems and prevent any further pollution. Operation of the plant will stop for now and will not resume again until SEPA is satisfied that the surrounding environment is not going to be adversely affected. “

ENDS