Fertiliser company fined after hundreds of complaints about manure stench

Neutrog Australia has been fined $35,000 by a South Australian court after a persistent, overpowering stench from its fertilizer operations led to over 700 resident complaints.

The company, located in the Adelaide Hills town of Kanmantoo, was found to have piled chicken manure, coffee grounds, and other waste materials to heights up to twice the legally allowed limit. Neutrog pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing environmental nuisance and contravening its Environment Protection Authority (EPA) license conditions by creating stockpiles of poultry litter and compost reaching 7.49 meters, significantly exceeding the 3-meter limit.

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It involved a recurrent environmental nuisance over many months. It affected residents and businesses in the ordinary use and enjoyment of their homes, properties and community.

Senior Judge Michael Durrant described Neutrog's offenses as being at the "mid to serious" level, stating that local residents were "entitled to expect better from an experienced and sophisticated operator." The odor complaints, which spanned from July 2022 to April 2023, significantly impacted residents and businesses in their ordinary use and enjoyment of their homes and community. The court also heard that Neutrog had taken in nearly 38 tonnes of waste coffee grounds to produce a fertilizer called 'Human Beans,' despite its license only permitting fertilizer production from poultry litter.

Neutrog acknowledged the issues, stating it has implemented changes as part of a continuous improvement program to minimize odor and engage with the community. The company noted that the charges related to activities from over three years ago and included the 'Human Beans' project, which was undertaken in good faith to support Foodbank SA. However, some local residents, like Peter Roberts, feel the fine is insufficient to deter future offenses, as the odor continues to plague the area.

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The charges brought by the EPA related to activities over three years ago and included the Human Beans project which was undertaken in good faith supporting Foodbank SA to provide meals to those in need.