The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has revoked an energy-from-waste (EfW) plant's PPC permit to operate, following persistent breaches in pollution requirements.
Scotgen (Dumfries) Limited's Dargavel plant has been subject to two enforcement notices since the beginning of 2013, the first following multiple breaches of their permit in 2012, and the second after a fire in July resulted in 800 tonnes of odorous waste being left on the site. In revoking the permit, SEPA said the site had "failed to meet any reasonable expectation of environmental performance" since it began operating in 2009.
They commented, "The facility started operations more than four years ago, and in that time has never achieved a level of compliance which would give SEPA any degree of confidence that future operation would be any different. Since the plant came into operation, we have provided support and assistance to Scotgen, including affording it considerable time and opportunity to demonstrate that this facility can meet best available techniques, and the specific requirements of European Directives designed to protect the environment. Unfortunately despite this, it has not done so."
SEPA has confirmed that it is revoking the site's permit due to "persistent non-compliance", as well the operator's failure to comply with an enforcement notice, maintain resources at a level to ensure compliance with the requirements of the permit, and its failure to recover energy with a high enough level of efficiency.
Scotgen, which describes the Dargavel plant as "Europe's most advanced EfW facility" can appeal against the decision.
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