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Residents to keep 'smells' diary Residents to keep 'smells' diary
(about 5 hours later)
People complaining about bad smells from a nearby waste incinerator are being asked to keep a diary about them.People complaining about bad smells from a nearby waste incinerator are being asked to keep a diary about them.
Some residents of Crymlyn Burrows near Neath say the "unbearable" smells sometimes force them to shut their windows and doors.Some residents of Crymlyn Burrows near Neath say the "unbearable" smells sometimes force them to shut their windows and doors.
Environment Agency Wales hopes to identify the exact cause of the smells by getting residents to keep a diary.Environment Agency Wales hopes to identify the exact cause of the smells by getting residents to keep a diary.
Neath Port Talbot council, which owns the company which operates the plant, has been asked for a response. Neath Port Talbot council, which owns the plant, said reported odour issues were recorded and investigated.
Environment Agency Wales said a meeting was being held to address residents' concerns.Environment Agency Wales said a meeting was being held to address residents' concerns.
The plant, which opened in 2002, processes household waste from Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.The plant, which opened in 2002, processes household waste from Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.
Roy Thomas, 55, who has lived in Crymlyn Burrows all his life, said his wife had complained about the smell "a few times" but it was still a problem.Roy Thomas, 55, who has lived in Crymlyn Burrows all his life, said his wife had complained about the smell "a few times" but it was still a problem.
Mr Thomas said: "About three weeks ago it was unbearable.Mr Thomas said: "About three weeks ago it was unbearable.
"It was horrible, it was unbelievable and it was the worst I've ever smelt it."It was horrible, it was unbelievable and it was the worst I've ever smelt it.
Really intenseReally intense
"You had to close the doors and windows and you couldn't sit outside in it.""You had to close the doors and windows and you couldn't sit outside in it."
Mr Thomas, of Baldwins Crescent, added that if he had not had so much work done on his house, he would consider moving.Mr Thomas, of Baldwins Crescent, added that if he had not had so much work done on his house, he would consider moving.
Chris Bruton, 37, who lives on Elba Crescent a few hundred yards from the plant, said: "Now the summer's here, the smell gets really intense.Chris Bruton, 37, who lives on Elba Crescent a few hundred yards from the plant, said: "Now the summer's here, the smell gets really intense.
"It depends on the direction of wind but it's not all the time."It depends on the direction of wind but it's not all the time.
"At the weekend it dies down a bit because there's not so many lorries taking refuse in."At the weekend it dies down a bit because there's not so many lorries taking refuse in.
"It's more the front of my house which faces on to it so I have to keep the front windows shut during the summer."It's more the front of my house which faces on to it so I have to keep the front windows shut during the summer.
"It's a smell of rotting food more than anything or if you don't wash a bin out for a few weeks, it's like that, except on a much larger scale."It's a smell of rotting food more than anything or if you don't wash a bin out for a few weeks, it's like that, except on a much larger scale.
"What I've noticed, because you get used to it, is if you have visitors they tend to notice it more.""What I've noticed, because you get used to it, is if you have visitors they tend to notice it more."
Environment Agency Wales, which regulates the site, said a number of complaints had been received from local residents about the smell.Environment Agency Wales, which regulates the site, said a number of complaints had been received from local residents about the smell.
"We are putting all of our efforts into finding and resolving the source of the problem," said the spokesperson."We are putting all of our efforts into finding and resolving the source of the problem," said the spokesperson.
'Odours diary''Odours diary'
Management have been asked to replace door seals, change the way they manage the site and investigate their systems for keeping smells within the plant.Management have been asked to replace door seals, change the way they manage the site and investigate their systems for keeping smells within the plant.
"We have also asked the operator to install a number of carbon filters that should help to reduce any smells," said the spokesperson."We have also asked the operator to install a number of carbon filters that should help to reduce any smells," said the spokesperson.
"This work is going on at the moment and we expect this to be completed this month."This work is going on at the moment and we expect this to be completed this month.
"Unfortunately, the complaints we do get do not follow a pattern which matches what happens on site."Unfortunately, the complaints we do get do not follow a pattern which matches what happens on site.
"This makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the smells."This makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the smells.
"To try and solve this, we will be asking a number of local residents to keep an 'odours diary'."To try and solve this, we will be asking a number of local residents to keep an 'odours diary'.
"This will give us a better picture of when, where and how strong the smells are and track down the cause.""This will give us a better picture of when, where and how strong the smells are and track down the cause."
The plant, officially called the Materials Recovery and Energy Centre, is operated by Neath Port Talbot (Recycling) Limited, which is council-owned. The plant, officially called the Materials Recovery and Energy Centre, is council-owned, and operated by Neath Port Talbot (Recycling) Limited.
Last year, the plant received 115,600 tonnes of waste from Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend councils, of which 78,400 tonnes was sent to landfill with the remainder recycled, composted or incinerated.
A spokesperson for Neath Port Talbot council said the authority worked closely with Environment Agency Wales to deal with any reported issues.
"Any reported odour and noise issues are recorded and investigated in order to determine their origin," said the spokesperson.
"Whilst there have been significant measures put in place at the site, the council and Neath Port Talbot (Recycling) Limited will continue to use their best efforts to ensure that the facility is not the source of any nuisance issues to the community."
One Elba Crescent resident, who did not want to be named, said that although there were smells from time to time, she was happy living in Crymlyn Burrows.One Elba Crescent resident, who did not want to be named, said that although there were smells from time to time, she was happy living in Crymlyn Burrows.
"We are very lucky because it's a nice place to live and it's a very quiet spot," she said."We are very lucky because it's a nice place to live and it's a very quiet spot," she said.