Glass Recycling UK Ltd (GRUK)

Glass Recycling UK Ltd (GRUK) is located in Carlton, Barnsley.

The Operator is permitted by the Environment Agency to store, treat and process waste glass before it is sent onward to other permitted sites for recycling. The incoming waste glass can at times be contaminated with non-glass waste; for example, food and drink residues left on glass packaging and non-glass waste mistakenly deposited in glass recycling bins. The glass waste is processed on site and any contamination is removed at the processing stage. Some of the waste processed at the site is inherently odorous. 

We have been working with the operator since 2024 to reduce odour releases and any future odour releases from the processes on site. 

We called GRUK senior management to a meeting at our Rotherham office on 20 March 2026 to make clear that the measures they have taken up to that date had been insufficient, and that the further measures they had proposed contained insufficient detail and evidence to provide assurance of their effectiveness.

GRUK are actively exploring further improvements to the site’s infrastructure and processes and engaging more closely with their odour management consultants to make the necessary improvements. We have since written to GRUK and required them to submit a new package of fully evidenced proposals by 27 May 2026.

Through our inspections we have seen the reduction of stockpiles on site and a change of approach to storing waste before it is processed.

We are continuing our active odour monitoring in the community. During January and February, we detected odour 3 times and recorded permit breaches each time. The CAR Forms for these breaches are available on the public register.