Clear the air meeting over waste site odours

Residents are fighting plans by Biowise Ltd to extend its site in Albion Lane, Willerby, and increase the range and volume of waste it processes.

The Environment Agency has yet to decide whether to alter its licence, and residents in Willerby and surrounding villages, who have set up a Stop the Stench campaign, are hoping to keep the pressure up during a meeting at the Mercure Hotel in Willerby from 7pm.

Spokesman Elizabeth Robinson said: “There were a lot of complaints about odours and an increase in flies last summer and this meeting is for local residents who have concerns about odours and flies.

“Waste needs recycling, we all agree with that and recycle, but it’s got to be done so it doesn’t produce an odour that adversely affects the area. Anyone who has concerns about this is invited to come.”

The company, which takes household waste from Leeds Council among other sources, wants to increase its possible annual tonnage from 24,999 to 75,000, and increase its composting storage capacity from 10,000 to 30,000.

The company insists it is complying with its licence, apart from one breach of its tonnage last year, and managing director James Landau has said the agency is happy with the company’s operations.

It also says it is supporting the local economy and providing jobs.

However, the agency issued two formal warning letters last year, for odours, a tonnage breach, and waste being stored outside the licensed area.

It also issued a suspension notice last December “to ensure that the odorous waste streams from the tannery are not accepted”.

The agency has asked the firm to put together an odour management plan.