Neutrog

Neutrog Australia Pty Ltd (Neutrog) is located at Kanmantoo and is a manufacturer of biological fertilisers.
We encourage community members to please fill out odour diaries to assist our investigations (please visit the EPA website and download a diary from the section ‘Reporting odour nuisance’).
Alternatively please drop a pin by clicking on the 'report odour' button below.
The company was first licensed by the EPA in 1995 to undertake composting works. In 2011 Neutrog ceased operations and surrendered its EPA licence.
In mid-2018 the company renewed composting operations at its Kanmantoo site to assist with the management of aContinue reading
Neutrog Australia Pty Ltd (Neutrog) is located at Kanmantoo and is a manufacturer of biological fertilisers.
We encourage community members to please fill out odour diaries to assist our investigations (please visit the EPA website and download a diary from the section ‘Reporting odour nuisance’).
Alternatively please drop a pin by clicking on the 'report odour' button below.
The company was first licensed by the EPA in 1995 to undertake composting works. In 2011 Neutrog ceased operations and surrendered its EPA licence.
In mid-2018 the company renewed composting operations at its Kanmantoo site to assist with the management of a disease which threatened the viability of the state’s poultry industry.
Accordingly, with oversight from PIRSA and Biosecurity SA, the EPA issued Emergency Authorisations to Neutrog to process contaminated poultry waste between late 2018 and late 2019.
Please contact us if you have any questions on:
- Phone: (08) 8124 4216
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EPA issues expiation to Neutrog, June 2022
The Odour Environment Improvement Program (Odour EIP) submitted by Neutrog on the 22 April 2022 was not to the satisfaction of the EPA, and has not been approved. The Odour EIP has not addressed the requirement to engage a suitably qualified Air Quality/Odour specialist to develop the EIP and provide recommendations to address odour.
In order for the EIP to be to the satisfaction of the EPA and in accordance with the requirements of the licence condition, it needs to address community submissions (made during the course of public consultation) in the development of the EIP.
It also requires a specialist to analyse and interpret odour modelling results already carried out, and undertake further monitoring and odour source assessment to provide a clear connection to the Odour EIP and odour reduction methods.
Further advice and recommendations are still required from an Air Quality-Odour Specialist in relation to specific odour mitigation and attenuation actions, to address community concerns raised in the community engagement process.
Because the Odour EIP was not submitted to the satisfaction of the EPA by the compliance date of 1 March 2022, the EPA has issued an expiation to Neutrog for the contravention of the licence condition, pursuant to s.45(5) of the Environment Protection Act 1993.
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Odour diaries
In May 2020 the EPA commenced odour monitoring in Kanmantoo and the surrounding area as a result of community concern about odour.
We encourage community members to please fill out odour diaries to assist in our investigations (please visit the EPA website and download a diary from the section ‘Reporting odour nuisance’).
Alternatively please drop a pin by clicking on the report button above.
Odour levels have so far not exceeded requirements of the EP Act and associated policies. However, very high odour levels have been detected at and around the facility.
The EPA has approved Neutrog’s odour management plan (OMP) and dust management plan (DMP). Implementation of these plans is ongoing. Odour source identification, monitoring and testing are informing ongoing odour mitigation and management actions in accordance with the OMP.
Developing and implementing an odour environment improvement plan (EIP) is pending, in order to ensure odour emissions are prevented or minimised, and odour levels do not exceed requirements of the EP Act and associated policies.
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Dust
Dust impacts have reduced following enclosure and process improvement of several identified dust sources. This includes installation of dust covers on feed hoppers of screening and mulching machines and additional cleaning of exhaust/ductwork associated with the pellet press.
All odour and dust complaints received are being investigated and onsite activities reviewed and improved in response.
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EPA licence for composting
Composting is a ‘Prescribed Activity of Environmental Significance’ defined in Schedule 1 Part A, 3(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act). The Act requires these types of activities to be licensed and provides the EPA with a means of regulating such operations through licence conditions. An EPA licence may only be granted after development approval has been provided by the relevant development authority, which in this case is the Mount Barker District Council.
Once development approval was granted by the council, Neutrog applied to the EPA for a licence to conduct composting works at its Kanmantoo site.
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Granting of the licence
In 2020, the EPA undertook public consultation in relation to Neutrog’s application. In accordance with statutory requirements, the EPA notified neighbouring properties directly via mail and published details of the application on its website.
An EPA licence was subsequently granted with a number of conditions placed on the company.
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Licence inclusions
The licence includes conditions requiring the company to develop the following plans:
- odour management
- dust management
- community engagement
These conditions are enforceable and the EPA can take a number of different actions, including prosecution, if the licence conditions are not met.
The licence restricts operations in line with the current development approval.
Your Language
Automatic translations are provided as a guide only. To speak with us using a live interpreter, please call the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450, and ask them to call us on 08 8757 9000.
Regulatory timeline
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January 2021: EPA Licence
Neutrog has finished this stageAn EPA Licence was granted to operate a composting facility at Kanmantoo site.
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June- July 2021: Community engagement commences
Neutrog has finished this stageCommunity consultation commences, and odour dispersion modelling is undertaken by Neutrog.
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December 2021: Community meeting
Neutrog has finished this stagePublic meeting held by Neutrog on 3 December 2021, with EPA attending.
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January 2022: Revised Groundwater Monitoring Plan
Neutrog has finished this stageRevised Groundwater Monitoring Plan condition added to the Licence.
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February 2022: Odour EIP
Neutrog has finished this stageCommunity consultation undertaken by Neutrog for draft Odour- Environment Improvement Plan (EIP).
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March - April 2022: Neutrog undertakes consultation on EIP
Neutrog has finished this stageCommunity consultation submissions collated and summarised for informing the development of the Odour Environment Improvement Program.
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April 2022: Groundwater Monitoring Plan
Neutrog has finished this stageGroundwater Monitoring Plan finalised.
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April 2022: Update EIP submitted to the EPA
Neutrog has finished this stageEnvironment Improvement Program developed and updated by Neutrog. EPA requests assessment by a suitably qualified air quality specialist.
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May 2022: Neutrog's Environment Improvement Program not approved
Neutrog has finished this stageThe EPA is not satisfied that the EIP is of an appropriate standard, and advises Neutrog it must engage a suitably qualified air quality/odour specialist to develop odour reduction measures.
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June 2022: EPA issues expiation and Neutrog advises odour specialist engaged
Neutrog is currently at this stageThe EPA issued an expiation for non-compliance with the EIP submission date of 1 March 2022. Neutrog advised the EPA that is has now engaged an appropriately qualified odour specialist to review odour monitoring and update the EIP for submission to the EPA.
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July 2022: EPA to work with Neutrog's odour specialist
this is an upcoming stage for NeutrogThe EPA is planning on working with Neutrog's odour specialist on site.
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2022: Future stages
this is an upcoming stage for NeutrogCommunity engagement on new Odour EIP informed by odour specialist
EPA to review EIP and recommendations informed by odour specialist