The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has served a legal notice on Wm Tracey Ltd to stop putrefying waste being deposited at the Barkip landfill site in Ayrshire.

SEPA has acted in response to numerous complaints over the past 24 hours from local residents in the Beith area about unpleasant, sickly smells emanating from the site. On investigation, SEPA found evidence that insufficient action has been taken to prevent the emission of landfill gas. Landfill gas is produced from decomposing waste and has a pungent, offensive smell.

SEPA has issued a notice requiring the company to cease depositing waste other than strictly inert wastes, until such time as sufficient action has been taken to stop landfill gas escaping from the site. The Notice is issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and follows on from a previous Section 42(5) Notice which required the company to take steps to contain and extract the gas. This has not been done to SEPA’s satisfaction so a new, stronger Section 42(6) Notice has now been issued to force appropriate action.

SEPA will continue to monitor the site closely to ensure that no further offensive odours are caused and that all necessary action is taken to prevent further problems.



ENDS