Omega Proteins - Penrith, Cumbria

Omega Proteins, operated by the Leo Group, is a Category 3 animal by-products processing plant located at Wildriggs, Penrith, Cumbria. It processes poultry and mixed species by-products (such as offal, skin, carcasses, and blood) to produce valuable products like animal feed (meal) and oils (tallow).

These products are used in various industries, including pet food, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and even sustainable aviation fuel. The site has been continuously invested in by the Leo Group since its acquisition in 2002, aiming to meet high industry standards.

The Environment Agency is the primary regulator of the rendering plant activities under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations. Omega Proteins has an environmental permit that allows it to process animal by-products.

The environmental permit has conditions that Omega Proteins must follow to minimise the impact of the site to people and the environment. This includes controlling odour from the site. 

We regularly inspect Omega Proteins to check their compliance with their environmental permit conditions. 

We take enforcement action in line with our enforcement and sanctions policy and the Government’s core guidance on environmental permitting if the company breach their permit conditions. We also take account of the Regulators' Code. 

We assess compliance with the permit conditions in several ways. This includes site inspection, site audits, off-site odour assessments and review of reports and monitoring data. 

We actively investigate odour complaints, acknowledging that while Omega Proteins is a concern, other sources of odour in the Penrith area (like agricultural spreading) are also being investigated.

Multi-Agency Working: 

We are working with partners at Westmorland & Furness Council to respond to residents’ complaints about odour. 

If you believe Omega Proteins may be the source of odours in Penrith you should also report this directly to the company as soon as possible.

This will mean the company can quickly investigate the report. This is particularly important with intermittent odour.  You can contact the company on 07976 857 435 or email PenrithEnvironmental@omegaproteins.co.uk