A Dundee medical waste disposal company is being monitored after “repugnant” smells triggered complaints from locals.
The Healthcare Environmental Services waste treatment plant at the West Gourdie Industrial Estate is under increased scrutiny from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) after residents and businesses in the area kicked up a stink about odours coming from the building.
The country’s environmental regulator will step up inspections at the site in light of concerns about the nature of the smell.
Dubbed the “West Gourdie whiff,” residents as far away as Douglas have commented on the smell, with SEPA confirming it has received numerous complaints. One has come from Simon Creamer, director of Dents8, whose business is just metres from Healthcare Environmental Services.
He said: “It’s been going on for months now and my wife has said it’s causing her to have sore heads and sore throats.
“The smell is just repugnant and even when I’m going home in the car I can still smell it on me. As soon as I get home I have to have a shower.
“It’s disgusting and when I was driving through to Perth for a meeting recently I was halfway there and I could still smell it on my clothes.”
SEPA has confirmed it has stepped up inspections at the plant in light of the complaints, adding that it is working with Healthcare Environmental Services to address concerns.
A SEPA spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has received complaints about odours from Healthcare Environmental Services Ltd.We are currently in dialogue with the company to find ways of resolving the issue.
“The site is inspected as part of our monitoring programme but we have increased the number of inspections following the complaints received.”
The Courier made repeated attempts to contact Healthcare Environmental Group last week but there was no response. The company’s website does state, however: “We operate our own vehicles and disposal facilities with compliance to the forefront of our service.
“We supply dedicated account managers with a wide knowledge of the waste management industry to ensure out customers are fully compliant with all environmental legislation.
“We ensure that all disposal sites utilised by us hold current waste management licences in accordance with the Waste Management Licensing Act 1984 and all other relevant statutory requirement.”