Back to Daldowie Fuel Plant, Uddingston

Regulatory activities and progress

During the spring and summer months of 2021 it was clear to SEPA that there continued to be areas of the DRAX SMW site that were giving rise to odours. In June 2021, the Operator submitted a report to SEPA detailing their investigations into further potential odours from the site. The report highlighted areas of work to be undertaken, this was further work from the new RTO and stack.

The assessment highlighted the following areas:

• some minor repairs to parts of the plant that have now been completed
• the need for full enclosure of six storage of caked sludge material, completed in February 2022
• the need for capturing fugitive emissions from vents in the drier hall building, which has yet to be completed.

The operator is currently in the process of preparing an application to SEPA regarding the capture of fugitive emissions from the vents. However, it has experienced difficulties in obtaining contractors to bid for the work. Therefore, a timescale for the completion of this work is not yet been agreed but it is anticipated that the work should be completed spring 2023.

The site has been inspected several times this year by SEPA officers. Housekeeping continues to be satisfactory with further in-depth inspections planned in the coming months.

We continue to be in regular dialogue with the operator regarding this work and have emphasised the need to complete any remedial work as quickly as possible, as failure to do so could lead to further enforcement action by SEPA.

During our investigations, we continue to respond to complaints regarding odour from Paterson’s of Greenoakhill landfill and the adjacent Scottish Water Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW).

If you are impacted by a sewage odour that you believe is from the Scottish Water WWTW plant, please contact Glasgow City Council Environmental Health department by using the online form: Report a Public Health Problem - Glasgow City Council or by calling 0141 287 1069.

Permit requirements

Emission monitoring on the regenerative thermal oxidisers (RTOs) D & A was completed in March 2021 as required by the permit. SEPA assessed the emission reports, and found all emissions tested to be compliant with the limits within the permit.

What happens next?

SEPA will continue to undertake to:

• Reactive and proactive odour assessments in the Newton Farm area
• Following up complaints with SMW Limited
• At this time, we will be unable to provide a personal response to each complainant instead, we will provide a standard email response and post updates on this webpage
• Continuing regular engagement with the operator as a minimum on a monthly basis
• Undertaking routine site inspections with a focus on the potential release odour from any source
• SEPA will take the regulatory enforcement steps necessary to secure permit compliance.

Please continue to inform us when offensive odour is present by using our online reporting form at sepa.org.uk/report. As there are several potential odour sources in the area it is very helpful if you can be as descriptive as possible, as it can often help us in our investigations.

Examples of odours experienced previously include:

• like a sewer
• faecal matter
• like a drain
• landfill gas
• rotten vegetables
• rubbish
• burnt sewage