Kerepehi firm fined over odour

A Kerepehi-based fertiliser company has been fined a total of $8,000 in the Hamilton District Court for discharges of objectionable odour and breach of an abatement notice.

The prosecution by Environment Waikato arose from a number of complaints from members of the public early last year over odour originating from the Environmental Fertilisers Ltd site.

Environmental Fertilisers is a small company specialising in producing agricultural fertiliser from organic materials.

A number of the complainants were members of the local bowling club involved in local tournaments. The court heard that members suffered the effects of severely objectionable odour while at the club.

At a recent sentencing hearing, Judge Melanie Harland set a starting point for the fine at $23,000 and then allowed reductions to the fine after taking into account the company’s guilty plea, the financial position of the company and the responsible approach by the company to improving processes on the site to reduce odour.

EW’s processing industry program manager David Stagg said the case showed that the council treats objectionable odour incidents seriously. “Our approach has been reinforced by the penalty imposed by the court.

“We are pleased to see there has been a significant reduction in odour complaints relating to this site since the prosecution commenced.”

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