We have always taken our responsibilities to our staff and neighbours very seriously.
In the Summer of 2002 we had recorded an increase in odour complaints and these had often been passed on to us for investigation. As part of that process we have decided to publicise the results of our investigation as follows:

Public Note for Circulation on Recent Odour Complaints – October 2002

1. We do take very seriously odour complaints and there have been an increase in number reported in the last 6 months
2. We have thoroughly investigated all of these and log all complaints in a register
3. We have had 2 incidents where we can clearly identify that we had materials which gave rise to odour – one hydrogen sulphide from a waste water (we subsequently installed continuous monitoring for H2S on the tank) and the second from styrene in water (we agreed not to take this material again).
4. We further have odour complaints that would appear to be, at least in part, from our Solvent or Oil Recovery processes and are taking steps to abate these as part of our improvement programmes for the Environment Agency
5. We have additionally had reports that persons are suffering health effects from “odours” such as stinging to eyes and respiratory complains – we can find no evidence that these are from us and have no such reports from our own staff in the last 12 months – we firmly reject that these are a result of any of our activities
6. We have independently identified that a BioTower which treats waste (non-hazardous) waters may give rise to odours. We have ordered a roof and ventilation system for this tank which should be in place by the New Year (2003). We will then undertake monitoring of the vent (it is extremely difficult to monitor accurately at present) and provide details to the Environment Agency of the results and any proposals for abatement
7. We know that we are not the sole source of odours in our part of the Avonmouth Industrial area (on the EA Pollution Inventory  website, for example, 19 other large processes are listed as releasing VOC’s within 1 mile of us) but as above we will investigate fully any complaints.
8. We have offered to one of our neighbours to have an odour survey undertaken around our site and this we will do in the next 10 weeks
9. We are further happy to undertake environmental monitoring in any persons place of work, after agreement with their employer, to ensure that there are no hazards to health from any odours we may produce.
10. We have a new procedure to handle any odour complaints
1. our telephone number is 01179 82303 and ring if you have an odour complaint
2. we will investigate and come back to you, if we state we are not the source and you still believe we are then we will invite you onto our site and you can inspect what we do
3. if the complaint is on a weekday then we should further be able to send one of our staff out with a Portable VOC detector to detect if a solvent or oil is involved (it  does not necessarily follow that we are the source of any  solvents and oils we may detect as explained in 7 above).
4. If you are still unhappy then you may contact the following at any time of day or night

Nick Roads  (MD) 07973 862525