(2) how many orders have been served by the Environment Agency to tackle problems of odour in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for regulating and inspecting sites that fall under a number of environmental regulatory systems, including the waste management licensing system and the pollution prevention and control regime. The EA’s national enforcement database records details of EA enforcement action, however, these records do not differentiate between different types of offences. The information requested is therefore not available due to the disproportionate cost involved.
Local authorities also have powers to issue notices in relation to odour problems under the pollution prevention and control regime. However, data collected are similarly restricted to the total number of notices issued by local authorities relating to any regulatory matter on emissions from designated Part A2 and B installations. A breakdown of notices served by local authorities solely for odour offences is therefore also not available.
DEFRA currently does not collate statistics on the number of statutory nuisance abatement notices served by local authorities to tackle odours, under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Local authorities do not have a duty to collect this data.