Greenstar fined over odours from Knockharley landfill

The operators of the Knockharley Landfill site at Kentstown, Greenstar Holdings Ltd, were fined €500 and ordered to pay €13,747 in costs at Navan Court last week for breaching their waste licence on four dates in 2007 and 2008. The court heard that inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had carried out inspections in June and July 2007 and February 2008 and found that odours were experienced from the site in local houses. Greenstar Holdings Ltd admitted breaching the licence at Knockharley on 12th June, 9th and 11th July 2007 and 13th February 2008. Judge Tom Fitzpatrick heard that the company operates a landfill site at Knockharley and the charges related to odours which caused significant interference with amenities in the area. The EPA's solicitor, Ms Rachel Minch, said the agency had received a significant number of complaints regarding odours in 2006 and 2007 and, as a result, it appointed site agents and carried out inspections. She said that they carried out odour assessments in June 2007 and odour levels at a house 500m from the site were moderate and persistant on 12th June. On 9th July, there were moderate to strong odours at a nearby house. Odours were also detected at nearby houses on 11th July 2007 and 13th Febraury 2008, the court was told. Ms Minch said that, in 2008, the company started installing infrastructure which saw a marked drop-off in complaints this year. There had been inspections on 1st June and 31st March this year which showed everything was in order. She said there had been 17 complaints about the landfill this year, but acknowledged that there had been a marked improvement. The court heard there were nine employees at the Greenstar site, the company had no previous convictions and had been co-operative with the EPA. Judge Fitzpatrick was told the company was now operating under a new licence which encompassed more detailed odour monitoring. A list of infrastructure which had been installed at the site since the offence was handed into court. Judge Fitzpatrick said he would take into consideration the fact that €2.2 million had been spent by the company in endeavouring to rectify the situation. However, he said he also had to consider the victims of the offence - the residents living nearby. "It was an unhealthy and uncomfortable situation for them over the last few years," the judge said.