Spreading of sewage sludge to land - impacts on human health and the environment: community concerns

Appendix 2

Statements from participants around "What can the project do, what can Scottish Government do, what can Scottish Water do and what can the community do"?

• Make strong recommendations from the group
• Raise concerns to bodies for better regulation
• Recommend better policing
• Extend models to presume criminal levels of spreading
• Investigate sustainable alternatives
• Seek alternative model for contractor / company relationships
• To look into data of contractors
• Look at individual areas [which are] highly affected
• Project needs to recognise that many of the contractors and the industry do not comply with legislation or best practice
• Make sure there is complete understanding of what is actually happening and the impact on people's lives
• Consider how long materials are stock-piled, well in excess of recommendations
• Where is the map of metal contents of land and it's availability
• Clarify who is responsible for the heat treatment of sludge

Scottish Government

• Listen to issues and react
• Carrot not stick? Reward good practice
• SEPA to turn up on Sunday [not sure what was happening on Sunday]
• SEPA needs to be more in evidence / needs to be consulted more
• Regulation must be adhered to
• Contractors should not be allowed to self-test samples
• Planning legislation- no planning application for sewage treatment, liquid waste lagoon, land fill
• Legislation and enforcement
• Current legislation is open to misinterpretation letting regulatory bodies do nothing
• SEPA stop re-issuing mobile licence over and over again
• SEPA be more proactive in checking operators activities
• Regulatory bodies held to account for lack of support or action. SEPA, SW, Falkirk council
• A single entity is required to regulate the industry. It must be fully funded and not rely on fines in the industry to pay for enforcement
• The spreading of sewage sludge must be banned until the product is proved to be safe and the industry controlled
• Consider costs to the country of the violations in the industry i.e. closure of rail line
• Legislate to protect communities
• SEPA inspect properly any risk management licences
• SEPA do not respond to complaints actively. Staff seem unaware of recommendations
• Protocols ignored, No scrutiny
• Quantities should be monitored and checked that they are not putting more on than allowed
• Annual testing of sludge land
• Regular impact studies of sludge testing
• Make contractors accountable- independent testing, enforced regular inspections
• Follow the example of Switzerland

Scottish Water

• Be proactive and monitor / test / research alternatives
• SW should monitor that contractors are processing properly
• More inspections by SW and SEPA
• React promptly to complaints
• Clarify legislation on who is responsible for pollution- 3rd party
• Vehicles that carry waste are unsuitable

Community

• Community councils should share information
• Interact more regularly
• Independently log loads and destinations
• Report smells to SEPA
• Report lorry activity to community council
• Who is responsible for following up/ handling complaints?
• Lack of trust

Other comments

• Same consultant works for contractor and Falkirk council
• Who regulates soil testing?
• Intimidation of public and inspectors [by contractors?]
• Why is sewage brought [here] from all over Scotland? Glasgow, Oban, Lossiemouth, Lochgilphead
• Ban until proven safe. Widespread abuse out of control
• Animal deaths / abnormalities in livestock
• Damage to businesses with pollution caused by over spreading
• Hours of operation, can go on all night
• No planning requirement for sewage operation
• Regulations for haulage not being followed (bring sludge up from Ayrshire)
• Could spread be decreased and incineration increased?
• Contractor putting slurry on peat at Gardrum Moss. Is that legal / appropriate?