Comments are being sought on a proposal to issue a new environmental license that would allow the dairy to increase cheese production.
The Environment Agency said it “intends to issue a new license to Saputo Dairy UK for its Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall”.
Saputo was fined £1.5m in 2022 after admitting a series of pollution and odor charges, with the agency saying “multiple breaches” had occurred at the plant in 2022 and 2023. Saputo said at the time that the problem was being resolved.
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The agency’s Chris James said the new license would “reduce the environmental impact of the site” while allowing the dairy to increase cheese production.
The proposal said the plant upgrade would increase the dairy’s cheese output from 9.6 tonnes per hour to 11.4 tonnes per hour.
The agency said it had issued a permit to Saputo to discharge the treated water into the Inni River, a tributary of the Tamar River.
The proposed permit includes new discharge limits and wastewater discharge monitoring, and formalizes noise and odor mitigation measures.
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James said the agency had launched a permit review “to improve the environment and protect the Inny River.”
People can send comments on the proposal via the Citizen Space consultation website, with the consultation closing on February 13.
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