Home / Environment / Recycling Site Inquiry Rescheduled Amidst Foul Smell Complaints
Recycling Site Inquiry Rescheduled Amidst Foul Smell Complaints
4 Jun
Summary
- A public inquiry for a waste site's life extension is rescheduled.
- Hundreds of complaints cited a 'putrid smell' from the facility.
- The Environment Agency revoked the site's permit to protect health.
A public inquiry into extending the life of a waste recycling site in South Elmsall, Wakefield, has been rescheduled to start on June 30 and is expected to last four days. This inquiry follows hundreds of resident complaints about a "putrid smell," dust, and litter emanating from the facility. Minore, the company operating the site, is appealing Wakefield Council's refusal to grant a ten-year permit extension.
The Environment Agency had previously revoked Minore's operational permit, citing the need to protect human health. Minore appealed this revocation, but the appeal was dismissed in December 2025. The inspector found the permit removal necessary to prevent pollution risks, rendering the company's permit invalid.
This marks the third attempt to hold the inquiry, with previous hearings adjourned due to concerns about public notice and operational reasons. The company has been ordered to remove all waste from the site by 2029.
