Summer Odour Management: How to Prevent Complaints in Hot Weather
Odour management is year-round, but priorities shift with the seasons. Spring is the ideal time to prepare your site for summer, when higher temperatures can increase odour intensity and the likelihood of complaints. With the right planning, you can manage odour risk, protect your planning applications and maintain good community relations. Here’s how to get your summer odour management right.
A Critical Time for Planning Applications
Summer is the best time to conduct odour assessments for planning applications. Planning authorities usually require you to conduct assessments during the warmer months (typically May–September). This is because these months offer the most accurate representation of odour impact.
What you can do now:
- Schedule odour assessments to meet regulatory requirements.
- Collect data so any adjustments to processes or controls can be implemented before summer.
- Avoid delays in planning approvals by acting before peak season.
Taking action in spring helps ensure smooth progress through planning and reduces the risk of objections or delays.
For more detailed guidance on how odour impacts planning decisions, see our cornerstone article on Odour Impact in Planning & Development.
Prevent Odour Complaints Before They Happen
Summer conditions can make odours stronger and more noticeable. People also spend more time outdoors, increasing the likelihood of complaints. A proactive approach is the best way to manage this risk.
Having a daily odour monitoring procedure will help you with this. Assign specific staff members and train them to assess odours in and around your site. They should be able to spot any changes in odour emissions before the local community does.
You should also conduct regular odour sampling and analysis of your processes. This will give you valuable data and reveal issues. It will also help you determine if any of your odour control equipment needs attention.
Understanding why odours become more noticeable in higher temperatures can also help you plan effectively. For more on this, see our guide to odour in hot weather.
Case Study: Managing Summer Odours at a Waste Management Site
Even when operations remain steady, summer can trigger unexpected odour complaints. One example comes from a large waste management company in East Anglia. It operates mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) and composting plants. During a particularly hot period, they saw a noticeable spike in complaints, despite no changes to their processes.
Regulatory Concern
The rise in complaints drew the attention of the environmental regulator. They wanted to ensure the company was operating in accordance with its permit conditions.
Our Approach
- Comprehensive odour monitoring plan: 18 key monitoring points across the site.
- Fortnightly sniff surveys: Conducted over four months to track seasonal variations.
- Consideration of local odour sources: Prevented misattribution of complaints.
- Staff training: Six employees responsible for daily monitoring attended our UKAS-accredited odour laboratory for sensitivity testing, strengthening internal processes.
Outcome
- The company could demonstrate compliance to the regulator.
- Improved internal odour evaluation procedures and staff confidence.
- Reduced the risk of future complaints being mismanaged.
Regular monitoring, detailed record-keeping, and staff training are key strategies for effective summer odour management.
Engage with your Local Community
It is important to promote good communication with your local community and stakeholders. Encourage prompt reporting of any odour concerns, and respond quickly and transparently. This approach helps build trust and establish collaborative efforts to control odours.
As a result, you are more likely to identify problematic odour emissions at an early stage. You can then remedy them before costs and negative publicity escalate. Working in collaboration with your local community can also minimise formal complaints.
Summer Odour Management Checklist
Prepare your site now to avoid odour issues this summer:
| Schedule odour assessments | Conduct assessments early to meet planning requirements and avoid approval delays. |
| Implement daily monitoring | Assign trained staff to check odour emissions and log changes. |
| Check odour abatement equipment | Inspect, maintain, and adjust scrubbers, filters and neutralisers. |
| Conduct odour sampling and analysis | Identify hotspots or process issues before complaints arise. |
| Engage the community | Set up reporting channels and respond promptly to concerns. |
| Document everything | Keep detailed records of monitoring, maintenance and communications for regulatory compliance. |
| Review and update plans | Refresh your odour management plan based on data and feedback. |
Tip: Start implementing this checklist in spring to ensure smooth, complaint-free operations during summer.
Partner with Experts in Summer Odour Management
Managing odours effectively during summer requires expertise. The Silsoe Odours team can support you with tailored strategies, including assessments, monitoring and community engagement.
Call: 01525 860222 | Email: info@silsoeodours.co.uk.
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Our experts help ensure your odour management approach is compliant, effective and responsive to seasonal challenges.
Originally published 3rd July 2023, updated 9th April 2026.
