Clare County Council today confirmed it has received a report of non-compliance from the EPA regarding odour issues at its central waste management Facility at Ballyduffbeg, near Inagh in County Clare.

The report relates to out-of-hours odour surveys carried out by an EPA inspector, who was based in the vicinity of the landfill from 31 January to 4 February 2009.

During this time, the inspector carried out a total of 54 odour inspections.

He reported an odour, which he described as "moderate and impersistent" on 14 out of the 54 occasions.

The EPA definition of a moderate odour is one that is "easily detectable while walking and breathing normally, possibly offensive".

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Clare County Council said it had detected odour off site through its own daily odour patrol on 2 February and reported this incident to the EPA.

"The council carried out extensive capping works in 2007 and 2008, following new guidelines issued by the EPA to all landfill operators in mid 2007. The number of complaints received by the Council and by the EPA was reduced by 50% in 2008," said a spokesman.

In an audit last year the EPA said: "The management and operation of the facility is well organised. With the housekeeping at the facility very good and the licensee has well established procedures and practices in place for the operation of the facility."

The report continued: "The licensee has invested a significant amount of time and energy into controlling landfill gas emissions from the facility, however an odour was detected off site and the licensee need to ensure that odours do not give rise to nuisance at off site locations, completion of the capping works should reduce the potential for odour nuisance off site."

"Clare County Council continues to operate the Central Waste Management facility in accordance with best practice in the industry, as recommended by the EPA, and is currently investigating the cause of these moderate, impersistent odours," added the local authority's spokesman.

(PR/BMcC)