Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Bryn Group – Briefing note – 19 October 2023

This briefing note provides a general overview of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) regulation of Bryn Group.

What activities does Bryn Group carry out at Gelliargwellt farm that NRW regulate?

  • Anaerobic Digestor (AD) Plant (EPR/AB3092ZE): Processes food waste.
  • Waste Transfer Station (EPR/WB3993HE): Processes incoming general and mixed waste.
  • Composting Facility (EPR/WB3993HE): Processing of green waste.
  • Water Abstraction Licence (WA/057/0022/0005): Abstraction of water for the quarry and other activities

Environmental Complaints:

Since the last Bryn liaison meeting on 05/06/23 and as of 05/10/23, NRW have received a total of 11 complaints.

  • 11 x Odour complaints

Over this period, we have not been able to confirm that the smell we have been notified is attributable to the permitted facility. We often find that where there is an obvious odour present in the area, it is linked to an agricultural activity both on-site and neighbouring farms, e.g. cleaning out of cattle sheds, or slurry spreading.

What is NRW doing in response to the odour complaints?

Upon an incident being reported to Natural Resources Wales, we ensure that an initial assessment is undertaken by the Incident Communication Centre, who then pass the incident to the regulatory officer.

A response is then undertaken, which can be in varying forms, such as;

  • A deskside review of the incident, wherein local knowledge of current site activity is utilised.
  • Forwarding the description of the incident to the Bryn facility for internal investigation.
  • Deployment of resource to the vicinity of the report to substantiate the presence of odour.

Report generated on 05/10/23 Enforcement Action

  • There is no ongoing NRW enforcement action related to Bryn Group permitted activities Completed Site Inspections since 05/06/23 (last Bryn Group liaison meeting)
  • Anaerobic Digestor (AD) Plant (EPR/AB3092ZE): 0 inspections undertaken
  • Waste Transfer Station (EPR/WB3993HE) & Composting Facility (EPR/WB3993HE):
  • 11/07/23 – 1 actions / breaches identified
  • Category 3 Breach
  • Stockpile height of unprocessed wood waste not in compliance with sites Fire Prevention and Mitigation Plan
  • Action completed by operator and unprocessed wood waste back in compliance with sites Fire Prevention and Mitigation Plan