Odour Monitoring (MCERTS)
MCERTS Odour Monitoring for Environmental Permitting, Compliance and Planning
Odour Monitoring provides objective, defensible evidence of odour performance where there is regulatory, planning or reputational risk. For sites subject to environmental permits, enforcement scrutiny or odour-sensitive receptors, structured monitoring helps demonstrate control, verify mitigation effectiveness and support proportionate decision-making.
When Odour Monitoring Is Required
Odour monitoring is typically required or expected where:
- There is a history of odour complaints or statutory nuisance risk
- The Environment Agency requests evidence during permit determination, variation or compliance assessment
- Odour conditions are included within an Environmental Permit
- New development is proposed near odour-sensitive receptors
- Process changes, throughput increases or abatement upgrades have occurred
- Baseline evidence is needed to support an Odour Management Plan or H4 Odour Impact Assessment
Purpose of Odour Monitoring
The purpose of odour monitoring is to provide objective, traceable evidence of odour occurrence, frequency and character, allowing operators and decision-makers to move away from subjective or complaint-led assumptions. Monitoring supports proportionate control, targeted mitigation and defensible engagement with regulators and stakeholders.
How Odour Monitoring Is Used in Practice
In practice, odour disputes and enforcement risk often arise due to limited or inconsistent evidence. Monitoring allows odour issues to be assessed in context, linking odour events to operational conditions, meteorology, process activities and control performance. This evidence is critical when responding to complaints, discharging permit conditions or justifying operational decisions.
Monitoring Scope and Methods
The monitoring approach is tailored to site-specific risk and regulatory expectations. Typical monitoring elements include:
- Structured site odour surveys at boundary locations and receptor-facing positions
- Frequency and intensity assessment using recognised odour assessment methodologies
- Operational correlation linking odour events to process activity, abatement performance and maintenance
- Source screening where multiple odour sources exist
- Targeted compound analysis where chemical characterisation is required (linked to UKAS-accredited laboratory analysis)
Where chemical composition data is required, monitoring may be combined with UKAS Accredited Composition Analysis (for Odour).
Standards, Guidance and Regulatory Context
Odour monitoring is designed with reference to current UK regulatory expectations, including:
- Environment Agency guidance on odour management and evidence gathering
- EA H4 Odour Management guidance (where permitting applies)
- IAQM odour guidance for assessment and planning support
- Best practice approaches to complaint investigation and odour risk management
Where MCERTS-aligned evidence is required, monitoring is scoped to ensure traceability, transparency and audit-ready outputs.
What the Monitoring Delivers
- A defined monitoring strategy aligned to the regulatory or planning objective
- Field data collected under representative operating conditions
- Interpretation of trends, patterns and likely odour drivers
- Clear conclusions on odour risk and control performance
- Practical recommendations for mitigation, operational control or further assessment
- A concise report suitable for submission to regulators or Local Authorities
Who Odour Monitoring Is For
- Waste management and resource recovery facilities
- Industrial and manufacturing operations with odorous processes
- Operators managing permit compliance and enforcement risk
- Developers and planning teams dealing with odour constraints
- Sites experiencing repeat complaints or neighbour sensitivity
Limitations and Scope
Odour monitoring provides evidence for the periods assessed and must be interpreted in context. It does not remove the need for effective operational management or odour control systems. Where long-term performance needs to be demonstrated, repeat monitoring or ongoing management frameworks may be required.
Related Services
- Odour Assessments
- Odour Management Plans
- H4 Odour Impact Assessment
- Site Odour Survey
- Odour Dispersion Modelling
FAQs
Is odour monitoring mandatory?
Monitoring is required where specified by permit conditions or regulator requests. In other cases, it is often the most effective way to demonstrate control and manage complaint risk.
Does monitoring replace an odour assessment?
No. Monitoring provides evidence; an odour assessment interprets risk and effect. The two are often complementary.
Can monitoring be used for permit or planning submissions?
Yes. Monitoring reports are commonly used to support permit determinations, condition discharge and planning decisions.
How long does monitoring take?
The duration depends on objectives, variability of operations and receptor sensitivity. Short targeted surveys and longer programmes are both common.
Need defensible odour evidence?
If you are facing complaints, permit scrutiny or planning risk, we can design a proportionate odour monitoring programme and provide clear, regulator-ready evidence.
