Latest news with #compostfactory
BBC News
31-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
NI kids football camp moved because of "horrendous smell"
A children's football camp in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, has been moved because of a "horrendous smell".Organisers of the summer club at St Mary's GFC said: "In the interests of the safety of our 90 children attending the camp and the 12 Tyrone coaches, who have been exposed to the most horrendous smell over the past two days from Sawgrass/Northway, we feel like we have been left with NO other choice but to relocate our Tyrone Summer camp."People living in the area nearby have complained for over three years, about the smell from a nearby compost factory is owned by Sawgrass Substrates Ltd (SSL) and makes a special type of compost for growing mushrooms, by mixing together hay, water and chicken litter - which is leftover bedding, and is made of things like sawdust, chicken poo and kid's summer camp has now been moved to the Tyrone GAA Centre in Garvaghey for the last two days of activities. A spokesperson from the SSL factory said that the increase in smell might be because of planned work to replace a biofilter in the factory."While a temporary and localised increase in odour may occur during the removal of existing media and the initial conditioning of the replacement system, every effort will be made to minimise any disruption to the said this work was "critical for the long-term effectiveness of its odour control system".The company also said "it remains fully compliant with all statutory requirements and operates strictly within the parameters of its relevant waste licenses" and "is committed to being a responsible neighbour and takes all feedback seriously." However, people who live close to the factory in Killeeshil have said that their lives have being affected by the bad smell for March 2024, residents protested outside the factory, and in May more then 200 people gathered outside Mid Ulster Council offices to voice their concerns.A local primary school and Gaelic Athletic Association club have also said the smell was affecting children's everyday lives 2024, Principal Louise Quinn from Cabragh primary school, said the smell had prevented children from using a sensory garden on the school grounds."It does vary, sometimes we get it in the mornings and sometimes late afternoon, and wind direction seems to play a part." she said. A spokesperson from Mid Ulster District Council said: "Given the lengthy period and extent to which the council has received complaints in relation to this site, the council is currently undertaking a complete case review of this matter."It is anticipated that the case review process in respect of alleged statutory nuisance will be completed by the autumn."
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mid Ulster: Residents protest over compost factory smell concerns
A crowd of more then 200 people gathered outside Mid Ulster Council offices to voice concerns about new planning proposals linked to a controversial compost factory in County who live close to the factory near Killeeshil have previously claimed their lives are being impacted by a bad smell which they say is coming from the year, the company Northway Mushrooms went into administration and the operators of the site are now Sawgrass Substrates Ltd (SSL).In a statement, the company said it acknowledged the concerns raised by some local residents regarding odour, but that it maintained "full compliance with all environmental requirements". A spokesperson for SSL added: "We take all community feedback seriously and are committed to operating responsibly and in line with our Waste Management Licence strictly regulated by the NI Environment Agency (NIEA)."Work at the factory involves the mixing of hay, chicken litter, and water to create a compost for mushroom March last year, local residents protested outside Northway Mushrooms to voice their concerns about a smell that they say they've been living with for later, the local school and GAA club said the smell was still impacting children's everyday Friday, members of the Cabragh Concerned Residents Association (CCRA) were once again protesting, this time outside Mid Ulster Council offices in Dungannon. Joseph McDonald is a member of Cabragh Concerned Residents Association (CCRA). Speaking at the protest, he said: "What you see here today is the spirit of our community, we're annoyed and distressed by what we see as an injustice."He said this issue has been ongoing for five years and they have been living with the smell which is like "rotten broccoli, it hits your chest and lungs"."Mentally it's not good for the community, you go out and put clothes on the line and the clothes are stinking, just even simple things like that. The hallway in my house is stinking," he said."Clean air is meant to be a basic human right, we're not getting that and we're putting out a message to our council tonight that something seriously needs to be done about the odour in this area." Protestors held placards and posters chanting "stop the stink".Many of the protesters said they believed the smell had gotten worse in recent surrounding odour issues at the factory in Killeeshil have been discussed several times at Mid Ulster protest on Friday is also connected to a new planning application linked to the application for a proposed "additional bio and roughing filter, yard extension (for bale storage), boundary fence and ancillary site works" has been recommended for is due to be presented to Mid Ulster's planning committee on Tuesday.A spokesperson for Mid Ulster Council said the purpose of the planning application was to "facilitate additional storage areas to ensure production is not interrupted" and that the proposed additional equipment would "mitigate emissions from the previously approved operations". The application has had more than 180 letters of objections, many of which are from local residents who live close to the at the protest on Friday a number of the protestors said they still had "serious concerns" that there would be still be ongoing odour a statement, SSL said it had "invested significantly in advanced odour reduction technologies".A spokesperson added: "To demonstrate our proactive commitment to the local community, an additional odour control facility is proposed with a capex of £1.2 million investment."This is not required as part of any regulatory requirements, but rather, our wider commitment to enhance the mitigation on site. Notably, no extension of the facility or further processing is proposed as part of the scheme. "The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) investigates environmental safety News NI contacted NIEA about the latest protest but did not receive a response.
