A & M Smith Recycling Services Ltd: Bankhead Recycling Centre, Duffshill Road, Portlethen - PPC Variation Application

Overview

It is part of SEPA’s remit to maintain a high-quality environment by setting permit conditions which limit the impacts associated with installations operating under Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Part A regulations.

Application details

We received an application from A & M Smith Recycling Services Ltd to vary their existing PPC permit, PPC/A/1008883, at Bankhead, Duffshill Road, Portlethen. This is a substantial variation to incorporate a hazardous waste transfer station into the permit. The company intend to import waste from the oil and gas industry to decant repackage bulk and store waste until there is sufficient levels to transport off-site to an appropriately licensed facility for treatment or disposal Information was reviewed and it was recommended that groundwater monitoring is carried out at regular intervals at the new area.

A and M Smith Recycling Services Ltd are a waste company in the north-east of Scotland. The site originally had an inert landfill Waste Management Licence. 

This was subsequently changed into a PPC Part A permit for landfilling section 5.2 schedule 1 of the Pollution Prevention and Control regulations 2012. They also have an inert material recycling facility on this site. This landfill site has now closed. 

The company intend to import waste from the oil and gas industry to decant repackage bulk and store waste until there is sufficient levels to transport off-site to an appropriately licensed facility for treatment or disposal. 

This will be under section 5.3 (b) disposal or recovery of hazardous waste with a capacity exceeding 10 tonnes per day involving (iii) blending or mixing wastes and (iv) re packaging of the waste on site prior to be taken for offsite treatment or disposal at an appropriately licensed facility. 

The operation at the Hazardous waste transfer station will also involve storing up to 250 tonnes of hazardous wastes prior to be taken off site for treatment or appropriate disposal. This activity falls under section 5. 6, Part A (a) of the PPC 2012 regulations.

All associated activities for this hazardous waste transfer station will be carried out within the hazardous waste transfer station and not in any other part of the site.

A summary of their application is available below:

• Non-Technical Summary

Why your views matter

SEPA have assessed the application and has drafted new permit conditions. These, along with the decision document, are available below:

• Draft Variation Conditions 
• Draft Decision Document 

This is your opportunity to let us know your views on the proposed conditions. The consultation will be open for 28 days from date of publication. SEPA will consider any comments received between 25 March and 22 April 2022 before issuing the final decision.

Your comments will be published unless you ask us not to, in which case we will publish a note saying that we received a response but have not made it publicly available.

What happens next

SEPA will consider any comments received during the consultation period between 25 March and 22 April 2022 before issuing the final deision.  If no comments are received, SEPA will issue the final decision no later than 29 April 2022 and issued documents will be published here. 

If you have any queries, please contact registry@sepa.org.uk