Hopes that a stench from a Bradford recycling plant had vanished were dashed when residents suffered the return of what they call “The Stink.”
During a recent warm spell, the smell from waste firm’s AWM’s Canal Road site was the same as before the processing unit received a £2.5m roof and 17 high-tech air purifiers, said teacher John Atkinson who lives nearby.
“We call it The Stink - and it went after the new roof went on, but suddenly came back during hot weather,” said English teacher Mr Atkinson, 35.
“There were times it would make you wretch. Sadly, I’m now a connosieur of The Stink.”
Mr Atkinson grades the smell strength from 1-6.
“That’s how the Environment Agency grades smells – from mild to making you feel sick. And it was definitely back to a six the other week.”
He and wife Sharon, 37, moved to their terraced home in Briarfield Road seven years ago and were part of local protests against the general smell from Associated Waste Management and then against the plan to roof the site.
“The smell used to rise up to Windhill and beyond depending on the wind direction,” Mr Atkinson said.
“We were against roofing the site although they did promise an end to The Stink. Since it was completed in January the situation has been much better – until those days about three weeks ago.”
Mr Atkinson enlisted the help of councillors Mohammad Shabbir and Rizwan Malik who experienced the smell themselves.
“It was repulsive and nauseating,” said Coun Shabbir. Coun Malik said the council had a duty to support local residents when faced with such problems.
“The smell was worse than putting your head in a dustbin,” he said.
“Although to give credit to AWM, they have tried to find solutions to the problem.”
AWM’s Group Marketing Manager Mike Robinson admitted there had been an error at the site, which creates bales out of household wastre which are then sent to Europe to be burnt in power stations.
He said: “We put our hands up to this – there was an issue three weeks ago when there was a lack of rotation of bales which whre then stored in an area without an air purification system.”
Although the bales were not outside, some smell was released.
“We are actively involved with the community and do not want to cause upset to anyone,” Mr Robinson said.
“And we want to make sure this never happens again.”
Another 11 Zehnder air purifying machines had been added and an additional purification scheme would be in place soon.
Mr Robinson said the Government’s Environment Agency had carried out a surprise and spot check on the site on Tuesday – which AWM and its 50 on-site staff had passed with flying colours.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency is working closely with Associated Waste Management in response to reports of odour problems at their site in Frizinghall, Bradford.
“Our investigations have so far identified a number of measures that will be taken by the company to help minimise odour, including the creation of an enclosing building and an improved air cleaning system. These, combined with other preventative measures, are designed to lessen the impact of odours on nearby properties. The Environment Agency takes complaints seriously, and we will continue to monitor the site.”