How to reduce odour nuisance

Tips to help reduce the likelihood of causing a nuisance:

Farmland Spreading

  • Check the weather forecast prior to spreading
  • Check the wind direction and try to spread only when wind is blowing away from neighbouring properties
  • Avoid spreading at weekends, bank holidays or evenings
  • Do not spread close to houses
  • Avoid frequent spreading in the same location
  • Avoid very heavy applications
  • Plough in immediately after or use injection to minimise odour

Farms/Livestock Units

  • Avoid odorous feeds.
  • Frequently remove waste, considering the time of day and wind direction
  • Keep odorous areas dry and well ventilated
  • Avoid the storage animal wastes near domestic premises
  • Avoid burning horse manure, use an alternative means of disposal

Poultry Units

  • Remove waste frequently
  • Clean out storage sheds frequently bearing in mind the weather conditions

Cesspits and Septic tanks

  • Empty frequently
  • Remedy defects as soon as possible, e.g. blocked soakaways/overflows
  • Ensure vents are appropriately located and of sufficient height

Industrial Premises

  • Where necessary increase the discharge height of any chimneys, but ensure this has no planning implications before doing so
  • Remove any terminal endings that slow the air flow, e.g. caps and cowls
  • Substitute odorous products
  • Use activated charcoal filters to adsorb organic odours
  • Use water-based paints with low organic solvent content
  • Maintain extract equipment, e.g. spray booths, fans etc
  • Relocate odorous processes away from nearby domestic premises

Hot food premises and food manufacturing

  • Increase the height and/or re-orientate the flue
  • Service, clean and maintain ventilation equipment
  • Use odour control technology, e.g. activated charcoal filters

Last reviewed: March 22, 2023 by James

Next review due: September 22, 2023

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