Kicking up a stink

From 1990 to 2001, odour from sewage treatment works was controlled by local authorities under the Statutory Nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990. Then came a landmark ruling in 2001, where it was judged that a sewage treatment works was not “premises” as defined by the EPA and the ability to serve an abatement notice for odour lapsed.

As a result, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) went out to consultation on possible remedies to the situation.