A summer camp for young Gaelic football players in County Tyrone has changed locations due to what organizers describe as a "terrible odor" they think is emitted by a nearby compost facility.
Employment at the Killeshil factory includes combining hay, chicken manure, and water to produce a compost used for cultivating mushrooms.
The platform is managed by Sawgrass Substrates Ltd (SSL), after Northway Mushrooms entered administration in 2024.
In a statement, the company mentioned that it aims "to assure the community that it continues to adhere completely to all legal obligations and functions strictly within the boundaries of its applicable waste permits."
A representative from SSL stated, "The company is dedicated to being a considerate neighbor and values all input received."
Individuals residing near the factory in Killeeshil had previously stated that their lives are being impacted by an unpleasant odor they believed originated from the plant.
In March 2024, Residents demonstrated outside Northway Mushroomsclaiming they had been exposed to the odor for years.
Several months later, the local school and GAA club reported that the odor continued to impact the children's daily routines.
In May, participants from the Cabragh Concerned Residents Association (CCRA)held another protest, this time outside Mid Ulster District Council's offices in Dungannon.
Over 200 individuals assembled to express worries regarding the latest development plans for the factory.
A soccer summer camp has been taking place at St Mary's GFC, located near the factory.
On Tuesday night, the GAA stated that it believed it had "no alternative but to move".
In a social media update, the club stated: "To ensure the safety of our 90 children participating in the camp and the 12 Tyrone coaches, who have endured the worst odor for the last two days from Sawgrass/Northway, we believe we have no alternative but to move our Tyrone Summer camp."
The remaining two days of the summer camp will take place at the Tyrone GAA Centre in Garvaghey.
'Lack of engagement'
CCRA stated that SSL "has not addressed odor concerns for more than two years, even though there have been thousands of community complaints - almost 250 in just the past month alone - all of which were sent to Sawgrass along with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Mid Ulster District Council, and all went unanswered."
"This directly opposes their public statement that they value all feedback and are dedicated to continuous dialogue with the community and officials," a representative from CCRA stated.
Case review
zaia newsNews NI reached out to Mid Ulster Council about worries that had been expressed concerning the factory's smell.
In a statement, a representative from the council stated: "Considering the long duration and the significant number of complaints the council has received regarding this location, the council is currently conducting a thorough review of this issue."
It is expected that the examination of the case concerning claimed statutory nuisance will be finished by the fall.
zaia newsNews NI has also reached out to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency for a response about the smell issues and the recent choice by the GAA club to relocate its summer camp.
Individuals from the CCRA have also expressed worries regarding tasks at the SSL factory, set for August.
In a communication addressed to the Mid Ulster Council, SSL officials stated that the action was "essential for addressing a developing operational challenge in the existing biofilter system," although they noted that "a short-term and limited rise in smell might happen while removing the current media and starting up the new system."
Longer-term plan
CCRA has expressed worries that the projects will "completely neutralize the facility's only means of preventing uncontrolled odor emissions."
It has requested that all activities at the facility be completely halted during the maintenance period.
SSL confirmed that there were scheduled activities between August 4 and August 15, which would involve maintenance on the biofilter.
It mentioned that this task was "essential for the sustained performance of its odor management system."
A representative stated, "Although a short-term and localized rise in smell might happen while removing the old media and starting up the new system, all possible steps will be taken to reduce any disturbance to the neighborhood."
This scheduled maintenance is an initiative aimed at enhancing and ensuring the facility's environmental efficiency.
SSL stated it had a long-term strategy in place that would include an extra biofilter.
The representative stated: "Sawgrass Substrates Ltd is continuing to work hard to handle and reduce any possible smell effects from its activities. We are informed about the current case evaluation by Mid Ulster Council and will fully support their procedure."
We are committed to continuous dialogue with the appropriate authorities and the local population while working to uphold the most rigorous environmental practices.
A representative from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) stated that SSL had notified the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) about scheduled maintenance for the biofilter system.
They mentioned that the NIEA is still getting information regarding odors at the facility.
"The NIEA will continue to exercise its regulatory control over the SSL facility during the maintenance phase," the representative stated.
This involves continuous compliance evaluations and smell inspections.
If any failure to comply is found, the NIEA will implement suitable and balanced measures following the Daera Enforcement Policy.
- Local residents voice their dissatisfaction due to odors from a composting facility.
- Disgusting factory odor is impacting our daily lives