Stink fix is needed - Local News - News - General - Camden Advertiser: "Opposition treasury spokesman Mike Baird was in Mount Annan on Friday to speak to residents about the smell coming from the Macarthur Resource Recovery Park.
He visited the Garden Gates estate with the Liberal candidate for Camden, Chris Patterson, and the Liberal candidate for Wollondilly, Jai Rowell.
Some of the residents living in Garden Gates say there's still an offensive odour coming from the plant despite a $1.6 million attempt to fix it earlier this year.
Cr Patterson, Camden's mayor, said the government had sold the park last week and the sale was expected to be settled in January."
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The business of human odour
The business of human odour: "Fortunately, the human body emits numerous smells considered unacceptable in civilised society. The mega quantity of odour that human bodies produce per day is immeasurable, but whatever small portion has been captured generates a huge amount of business. The $30.5 billion global body fragrances market in 2006 will grow to be $35 billion in 2011. Premium fragrances comprise 60 per cent of the market, women’s fragrances account for 66 per cent of total sales."
Waste odour success claim - Local News - Hawke's Bay Today
Waste odour success claim - Local News - Hawke's Bay Today: "Smells from the East Clive waste water treatment plant are not as pungent as last summer, Hastings District Council says.
Significantly fewer complaints have been received compared with last year, when odour problems peaked at the new plant."
Significantly fewer complaints have been received compared with last year, when odour problems peaked at the new plant."
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Waste plant attacks smell - Local News - News - General - Camden Advertiser
Waste plant attacks smell - Local News - News - General - Camden Advertiser: "has identified five factors contributing to the recent increase in odour complaints at the Macarthur Resource Recovery Park.
A company spokeswoman said it had taken action for the second time to stop the smell. Work is expected to be completed this month.
Last week the Advertiser reported that some residents were still concerned about the smell coming from the park near Garden Gates Estate despite the $1.6 million spent on operational changes and a plant upgrade in August.
The WSN spokeswoman said the situation improved considerably after the first upgrade with a reduction in complaints.
'Since late September there have been new sources of odour that have affected some residents,' she said. 'These sources have been identified and a second round of initiatives to minimise the impact of odour on the community is under way.'
The five factors identified included weather conditions, water pressure, composting activities, landfill coverage and an 'odorous' section of the facility.
The WSN spokeswoman said the company was installing weather monitoring stations at Camden Soil Mix."
A company spokeswoman said it had taken action for the second time to stop the smell. Work is expected to be completed this month.
Last week the Advertiser reported that some residents were still concerned about the smell coming from the park near Garden Gates Estate despite the $1.6 million spent on operational changes and a plant upgrade in August.
The WSN spokeswoman said the situation improved considerably after the first upgrade with a reduction in complaints.
'Since late September there have been new sources of odour that have affected some residents,' she said. 'These sources have been identified and a second round of initiatives to minimise the impact of odour on the community is under way.'
The five factors identified included weather conditions, water pressure, composting activities, landfill coverage and an 'odorous' section of the facility.
The WSN spokeswoman said the company was installing weather monitoring stations at Camden Soil Mix."
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Inquiry urged into doubling of volume at rubbish dump
Inquiry urged into doubling of volume at rubbish dump: "Local residents fear an increase in odour at the site and more truck movements.
The Sydney Catchment Authority is worried about contaminated liquids leaching from the dump into Warragamba dam.
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Competitors charge that the operator of the Woodlawn dump, the French group Veolia, is not doing enough to recycle waste at the site, reducing the amount going into landfill.
Veolia has approval to build a 280,000 tonne-a-year waste processing plant, but has not done so.
Veolia is seeking government approval to raise the amount of rubbish dumped into the former mine site at Woodlawn from 500,000 tonnes a year to 1.13 million tonnes. Along with Sydney's waste, the dump takes waste from the ACT and refuse from some local councils."
The Sydney Catchment Authority is worried about contaminated liquids leaching from the dump into Warragamba dam.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Competitors charge that the operator of the Woodlawn dump, the French group Veolia, is not doing enough to recycle waste at the site, reducing the amount going into landfill.
Veolia has approval to build a 280,000 tonne-a-year waste processing plant, but has not done so.
Veolia is seeking government approval to raise the amount of rubbish dumped into the former mine site at Woodlawn from 500,000 tonnes a year to 1.13 million tonnes. Along with Sydney's waste, the dump takes waste from the ACT and refuse from some local councils."
Smell in the air
Smell in the air: "RESIDENTS across Singapore were complaining of a bad 'chemical' odour yesterday.
Described mostly as a strong, kerosene-like smell, it spread across the island throughout the day, affecting people from Punggol to Yio Chu Kang and Tampines.
A National Environment Agency (NEA) spokesman said the agency had received about 100 complaints since 5pm about a smell described variously as an 'oil smell', a 'burnt plastic smell' and a 'chemical smell'.
He added that a large number of complaints were first received from residents in the Sengkang and Punggol areas, followed by Seletar Hills and Serangoon Gardens. Some complaints were also received from the Toa Payoh North and Ang Mo Kio areas.
No toxic gases have been detected and the NEA is monitoring the situation.
The agency has also contacted its Malaysian counterparts to check whether any unusual smell has been detected in Johor."
Described mostly as a strong, kerosene-like smell, it spread across the island throughout the day, affecting people from Punggol to Yio Chu Kang and Tampines.
A National Environment Agency (NEA) spokesman said the agency had received about 100 complaints since 5pm about a smell described variously as an 'oil smell', a 'burnt plastic smell' and a 'chemical smell'.
He added that a large number of complaints were first received from residents in the Sengkang and Punggol areas, followed by Seletar Hills and Serangoon Gardens. Some complaints were also received from the Toa Payoh North and Ang Mo Kio areas.
No toxic gases have been detected and the NEA is monitoring the situation.
The agency has also contacted its Malaysian counterparts to check whether any unusual smell has been detected in Johor."
Thursday, November 11, 2010
CBC News - Edmonton - Oil sector funds Alta. group fighting stench
CBC News - Edmonton - Oil sector funds Alta. group fighting stench: "A group of Alberta landowners fighting a tar-like stench will be getting support from what's believed to be the source of the odour — the oil industry.
Carmen Langer of the Three Creeks Emissions Working Group near Peace River said Alberta's oil industry regulator had been paying for their group's meeting rooms and a mediator as part of efforts to find a solution to the smell.
But Langer said that ended last month when the Energy and Resources Conservation Board told them it would no longer foot the bill.
Langer said oil companies in the area have agreed to pay for the services, including a mediator."
Carmen Langer of the Three Creeks Emissions Working Group near Peace River said Alberta's oil industry regulator had been paying for their group's meeting rooms and a mediator as part of efforts to find a solution to the smell.
But Langer said that ended last month when the Energy and Resources Conservation Board told them it would no longer foot the bill.
Langer said oil companies in the area have agreed to pay for the services, including a mediator."
Monday, November 01, 2010
Chemical odor in Makiki shuts down part of Keeamoku | KHON2 Hawaii's News Leader
Chemical odor in Makiki shuts down part of Keeamoku | KHON2 Hawaii's News Leader: "Police closed Keeamoku Street from Kinau Street to Wilder Avenue form more than two hours Saturday morning while Hazmat crews searched for the source of a chemical�odor in the pool room at Makiki District Park."
Deodorant made from nanoparticles to eliminate unpleasant odours
Deodorant made from nanoparticles to eliminate unpleasant odours: "The new method does not mask odours like today's room fresheners, but eliminates them at the source.
Their research found that a deodorant made from nanoparticles - hundreds of times smaller than peach fuzz - eliminates odours up to twice as effectively as today's gold standard.
Brij Moudgil and colleagues note that consumers use a wide range of materials to battle undesirable odours in clothing, on pets, in rooms, and elsewhere."
Their research found that a deodorant made from nanoparticles - hundreds of times smaller than peach fuzz - eliminates odours up to twice as effectively as today's gold standard.
Brij Moudgil and colleagues note that consumers use a wide range of materials to battle undesirable odours in clothing, on pets, in rooms, and elsewhere."
Friday, October 29, 2010
"Researchers detail in 'Potential odour emission measurement in organic fraction of municipal solid waste during anaerobic digestion: relationship with process and biological stability parameters,' new data in bioresource technology. According to recent research from Milano, Italy, 'The aim of the present study is to investigate the correlation between microbial activity, i.e., biological stability measured by aerobic (OD20 test) and anaerobic tests (ABP test), and odour emissions of organic fraction of municipal solid waste during anaerobic digestion in a full-scale treatment plant considering the three stages of the process (input, digested and post-digested waste). The results obtained indicated that the stabilization of the treated material reduces the odour impact measured by the olfactometric approach.'
'Successive application of ga"
'Successive application of ga"
BBC News - Village odour is not 'statutory nuisance'
BBC News - Village odour is not 'statutory nuisance': "The odour caused by the clean up of a former chemical factory site in Cambridgeshire has not caused a statutory nuisance, investigators say.
Concerns were raised by campaign group Hauxair over the effects on health of a nauseous odour in Hauxton.
Public authorities and councils earlier assured the group that the odour on the Bayer CropScience site was no threat.
South Cambridgeshire District Council made more than 60 visits to the area during a six-month investigation."
Concerns were raised by campaign group Hauxair over the effects on health of a nauseous odour in Hauxton.
Public authorities and councils earlier assured the group that the odour on the Bayer CropScience site was no threat.
South Cambridgeshire District Council made more than 60 visits to the area during a six-month investigation."
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Residents fight takeaway plans | News | This is Gloucestershire
Residents fight takeaway plans | News | This is Gloucestershire: "odour and traffic issues have been raised by residents opposed to plans to convert empty units on a Brockworth shopping parade.
Residents in Ermin Park say they were worried the proposed conversion of the two units into a cafe and takeaway delivery service would have a 'serious impact' on their lives.
Lesley Sperring, 55, who lives next-door to one of the units, said the community was not happy about it.
She said: 'Certainly for me and the two families living above it would be horrendous."
Residents in Ermin Park say they were worried the proposed conversion of the two units into a cafe and takeaway delivery service would have a 'serious impact' on their lives.
Lesley Sperring, 55, who lives next-door to one of the units, said the community was not happy about it.
She said: 'Certainly for me and the two families living above it would be horrendous."
New rules for industrial developments - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
New rules for industrial developments - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Councils will have to consider the impacts of new industrial developments on nearby residents under a new Queensland Government planning policy.
Sustainability Minister Kate Jones says air, noise, and odour emissions should be considered, along with the use of hazardous materials.
She told Parliament the policy says industrial zones should be at least 1.5 kilometres away from homes.
'This policy is about providing the necessary planning framework to ensure that industrial development is planned for and designed in a way that minimises the impacts on local communities,' she said.
'Until now, the interface between industry and residential zones has been managed in a piecemeal way by individual councils.'"
Sustainability Minister Kate Jones says air, noise, and odour emissions should be considered, along with the use of hazardous materials.
She told Parliament the policy says industrial zones should be at least 1.5 kilometres away from homes.
'This policy is about providing the necessary planning framework to ensure that industrial development is planned for and designed in a way that minimises the impacts on local communities,' she said.
'Until now, the interface between industry and residential zones has been managed in a piecemeal way by individual councils.'"
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Fort Wayne Getting A Whiff Of A Foul Odor | Indiana's NewsCenter: News, Sports, Weather, Fort Wayne WPTA-TV, WISE-TV, CW, and My Network | Local
Fort Wayne Getting A Whiff Of A Foul Odor | Indiana's NewsCenter: News, Sports, Weather, Fort Wayne WPTA-TV, WISE-TV, CW, and My Network | Local: "For two weeks now residents from all four quadrants around the city have been calling in reporting a strange smell in the air.
Many we spoke with say the smell is like that of a hog farm or methane gas.
Depending on the wind direction and speed your senses may pick it up all around. This smell has no boundaries.
When city leaders began their investigation they acknowledged the stench but can't figure out themselves exactly where it's coming from.
They do say a couple of factors could be in play.
Our dry summer means low river levels - exposing the bottom of the river to the air, possibly creating some odor.
Also, as temperatures change, retention ponds at the city's pollution control plant can give off gaseous odors.
Fort Wayne Spokesperson Frank Suarez says, “It's one of those things that we will continue to investigate. We have contacted the Allen County Health Department and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and we will have a team of experts continue to look at this for quite a while and hopefully we will be able to find the cause.”"
Many we spoke with say the smell is like that of a hog farm or methane gas.
Depending on the wind direction and speed your senses may pick it up all around. This smell has no boundaries.
When city leaders began their investigation they acknowledged the stench but can't figure out themselves exactly where it's coming from.
They do say a couple of factors could be in play.
Our dry summer means low river levels - exposing the bottom of the river to the air, possibly creating some odor.
Also, as temperatures change, retention ponds at the city's pollution control plant can give off gaseous odors.
Fort Wayne Spokesperson Frank Suarez says, “It's one of those things that we will continue to investigate. We have contacted the Allen County Health Department and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and we will have a team of experts continue to look at this for quite a while and hopefully we will be able to find the cause.”"
D-day for glass plant - inMyCommunity - Perth, Western Australia
D-day for glass plant - inMyCommunity - Perth, Western Australia: "The City’s report on other Colmax plants found the Dandenong plant was issued with a $5841 fine in May from the Victorian Environmental Protection Agency for breaching a requirement to manage odour on its site.
Mr Harkins said the company was fighting the fine and the complaint came from “unreasonable” neighbours.
The report also said dust was an issue at the Dandenong recycling plant, having a “significant” impact on surrounding buildings and vehicles, being sucked into machinery and being inhaled by employees and nearby residents and workers.
Mr Harkins said the Queensland and New South Wales plants had received no complaints about noise, dust or odour."
Mr Harkins said the company was fighting the fine and the complaint came from “unreasonable” neighbours.
The report also said dust was an issue at the Dandenong recycling plant, having a “significant” impact on surrounding buildings and vehicles, being sucked into machinery and being inhaled by employees and nearby residents and workers.
Mr Harkins said the Queensland and New South Wales plants had received no complaints about noise, dust or odour."
Inspectors trawl Brooklyn factories zone - Health - News - Maribyrnong Leader
Inspectors trawl Brooklyn factories zone - Health - News - Maribyrnong Leader: "HUNDREDS of compliance inspections have been conducted at premises in the Brooklyn industrial precinct in a bid to crack-down on unlawful dust, odour and noise.
At its meeting last week, Brimbank Council heard how the council’s development compliance team members had been involved in 134 site inspections since May, bringing the total number of inspections for the year to more than 250."
At its meeting last week, Brimbank Council heard how the council’s development compliance team members had been involved in 134 site inspections since May, bringing the total number of inspections for the year to more than 250."
Monday, October 25, 2010
Judges sniff out state's smelliest sneakers - Silver City Sun-News
Judges sniff out state's smelliest sneakers - Silver City Sun-News: "Judges sniff out state's smelliest sneakers
By Adriana Salas Missile Ranger
Posted:�10/24/2010 11:58:42 PM MDT
Click photo to enlarge
Grand-prize winner Cameron Brown, right, received a Golden... (U.S. Army photo by Adriana Salas)
Staff Writer
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE - The foul smells coming from the White Sands Missile Range Schools gymnasium the evening of Oct. 15 came from a concoction of 21 smelliest sneakers in the school, vying for the title of smelliest shoes in the state of New Mexico.
The event, sponsored by Odor-Eaters, was held in conjunction with the schools Fall Festival. Three prize winners were chosen, with the grand prize winner receiving $200 and a year's supply of Odor Eaters products. The grand prize winner will also compete in the national competition.
Cameron Brown was this year's smelliest sneaker winner, and according to his mother, Mary Woodhouse, he worked hard for that title. Woodhouse said Brown would come home every afternoon for the past six months, smell the shoes and place them in a plastic bag in order to seal in the odors. When Brown initially took the stage for judging, all five panelists kept their distance from the sneakers and judged them with their arms extended. Though there were still a few contenders after Brown, none gave the panelist the same reaction."
By Adriana Salas Missile Ranger
Posted:�10/24/2010 11:58:42 PM MDT
Click photo to enlarge
Grand-prize winner Cameron Brown, right, received a Golden... (U.S. Army photo by Adriana Salas)
Staff Writer
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE - The foul smells coming from the White Sands Missile Range Schools gymnasium the evening of Oct. 15 came from a concoction of 21 smelliest sneakers in the school, vying for the title of smelliest shoes in the state of New Mexico.
The event, sponsored by Odor-Eaters, was held in conjunction with the schools Fall Festival. Three prize winners were chosen, with the grand prize winner receiving $200 and a year's supply of Odor Eaters products. The grand prize winner will also compete in the national competition.
Cameron Brown was this year's smelliest sneaker winner, and according to his mother, Mary Woodhouse, he worked hard for that title. Woodhouse said Brown would come home every afternoon for the past six months, smell the shoes and place them in a plastic bag in order to seal in the odors. When Brown initially took the stage for judging, all five panelists kept their distance from the sneakers and judged them with their arms extended. Though there were still a few contenders after Brown, none gave the panelist the same reaction."
General News - Environmental pollution rises in Islamabad
General News - Environmental pollution rises in Islamabad: "Environmental pollution rises in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD �(October 25, 2010) :�Environmental pollution has increased to alarming level in the federal capital as there has been mushroom growth of informal dump sites in the city for several years.
In a survey conducted by this agency citizens said that cutting off trees, improper garbage disposal, bad sewerage system, constructions of roads are the main factors, causing environmental pollution.
The residents opined that there was no proper system of solid waste treatment and uncovered drains run through the city, emitting bad odour and also overflow during rains. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has identified 75 places where people throw their garbage, but there are countless other such informal dumps in the city."
ISLAMABAD �(October 25, 2010) :�Environmental pollution has increased to alarming level in the federal capital as there has been mushroom growth of informal dump sites in the city for several years.
In a survey conducted by this agency citizens said that cutting off trees, improper garbage disposal, bad sewerage system, constructions of roads are the main factors, causing environmental pollution.
The residents opined that there was no proper system of solid waste treatment and uncovered drains run through the city, emitting bad odour and also overflow during rains. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has identified 75 places where people throw their garbage, but there are countless other such informal dumps in the city."
World Poultry - News: Promoting poultry industry growth in central north NSW
World Poultry - News: Promoting poultry industry growth in central north NSW: "Promoting poultry industry growth in central north NSW
//25 Oct 2010
In Australia, staff from the Poultry CRC joined a group of poultry growers and processors, NSW Farmers Association members, local council representatives and federal politicians to discuss the future of the poultry industry in the central north of NSW
The CRC was invited to attend to explain its nationally-based research programs, with a focus on environmental management. This opened the way for discussions on possible on-farm collaborations relating to odour and dust mitigation and spent-litter management.
According to Peter Pulley, from the NSW Poultry Meat Industry Committee, who chaired the meeting, the take-home message is brief and to the point, namely that the poultry industry is an enormous contributor to the local economy, currently employing over 1000 people, but that its future in the region is uncertain."
//25 Oct 2010
In Australia, staff from the Poultry CRC joined a group of poultry growers and processors, NSW Farmers Association members, local council representatives and federal politicians to discuss the future of the poultry industry in the central north of NSW
The CRC was invited to attend to explain its nationally-based research programs, with a focus on environmental management. This opened the way for discussions on possible on-farm collaborations relating to odour and dust mitigation and spent-litter management.
According to Peter Pulley, from the NSW Poultry Meat Industry Committee, who chaired the meeting, the take-home message is brief and to the point, namely that the poultry industry is an enormous contributor to the local economy, currently employing over 1000 people, but that its future in the region is uncertain."
Anotec Odour Neutralisers odour control
Anotec Odour Neutralisers odour control: "When it comes to odour control, Anotec is a leader in its field.� Anotec can project manage your odour issue� by providing quality formulations and products which are of tangible benefit to you. Simple, straight forward and without confusion."
Friday, October 22, 2010
Odor complaints halt work at Richmond sewage plant - San Jose Mercury News
Odor complaints halt work at Richmond sewage plant - San Jose Mercury News: "RICHMOND, Calif.—A Richmond wastewater treatment plant has halted some operations after residents complained about bad smells and health problems.
Residents of the Point Richmond neighborhood say the odor has been permeating homes and sickening families.
Some have complained about nausea, headaches, respiratory problems and other symptoms they attribute to breathing hydrogen sulfide, which has a rotten-egg smell.
Sewage plant operator Veolia Water has reduced operations to minimize production of the colorless gas.
The company plans to repair or replace cracked covers on digesting machines, which could lead to the release of hydrogen sulfide.
Officials with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District told the Contra Costa Times they are investigating the complaints."
Residents of the Point Richmond neighborhood say the odor has been permeating homes and sickening families.
Some have complained about nausea, headaches, respiratory problems and other symptoms they attribute to breathing hydrogen sulfide, which has a rotten-egg smell.
Sewage plant operator Veolia Water has reduced operations to minimize production of the colorless gas.
The company plans to repair or replace cracked covers on digesting machines, which could lead to the release of hydrogen sulfide.
Officials with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District told the Contra Costa Times they are investigating the complaints."
5,000 up in arms over foul smell | Daily Express Newspaper Online, Sabah, Malaysia.
5,000 up in arms over foul smell | Daily Express Newspaper Online, Sabah, Malaysia.: "About 5,000 people in five villages here are complaining about foul odour emitted from a rubber processing factory in Kampung Kauran, near here.
They claimed the odour could affect their health, especially children and babies.
At the same time, they claimed the Kauran River being used by people in four villages as their main water source had also been polluted by the factory's waste.
Representatives from the five villages, namely JKKK Bakiau Chairman, James Leong, JKKK Muhibbah Chairman Claudius Kinsik, JKKK Kauran Chairman Safri Mohd Ram and JKKK Kadalakan and Banjar Chairman Petrus Sabiew, urged the Government to interfere and order the factory to be moved elsewhere.
They said they had also written a letter to Liawan Assemblyman, Datuk Sairin Karno."
They claimed the odour could affect their health, especially children and babies.
At the same time, they claimed the Kauran River being used by people in four villages as their main water source had also been polluted by the factory's waste.
Representatives from the five villages, namely JKKK Bakiau Chairman, James Leong, JKKK Muhibbah Chairman Claudius Kinsik, JKKK Kauran Chairman Safri Mohd Ram and JKKK Kadalakan and Banjar Chairman Petrus Sabiew, urged the Government to interfere and order the factory to be moved elsewhere.
They said they had also written a letter to Liawan Assemblyman, Datuk Sairin Karno."
Universal Resource Recovery preparing to resume production - Welland Tribune - Ontario, CA
Universal Resource Recovery preparing to resume production - CA
aid-off employees at Universal Resource Recovery are going back to work.
Gerald Patt, URR's general manager, said Wednesday afternoon that the Welland organic waste recycling company will open again in early November. He said full production won't resume until December.
All 12 workers -- half of the workforce there -- who were laid off in the summer will return, he said.
In late July, URR voluntarily shut down its plant on a temporary basis amidst complaints by nearby residents about awful odours emanating from the compost facility.
Patt is confident there won't be more odour issues because of improvements made by the company, such as the installation of more dehumidifiers to the plant's odour abatement systems.
"We're getting excited," Patt said of resuming production. "It's pretty significant the changes that have happened in there. I'm very optimistic."
Tim Zack is one of the returning employees. The 32-year-old, who works as a loader and operator at the plant, said he's eager to resume his duties.
"It's a good place to work. Good bunch of guys," he said.
The Welland man said although the temporary layoff notice was unsatisfactory, it wasn't a shock to him and his colleagues.
"We knew it was coming," he said, adding the closure was needed for the factory to undergo improvements, which he called "amazing."
Patt wouldn't disclose how much the improvements cost, only saying that it was "another significant investment."
aid-off employees at Universal Resource Recovery are going back to work.
Gerald Patt, URR's general manager, said Wednesday afternoon that the Welland organic waste recycling company will open again in early November. He said full production won't resume until December.
All 12 workers -- half of the workforce there -- who were laid off in the summer will return, he said.
In late July, URR voluntarily shut down its plant on a temporary basis amidst complaints by nearby residents about awful odours emanating from the compost facility.
Patt is confident there won't be more odour issues because of improvements made by the company, such as the installation of more dehumidifiers to the plant's odour abatement systems.
"We're getting excited," Patt said of resuming production. "It's pretty significant the changes that have happened in there. I'm very optimistic."
Tim Zack is one of the returning employees. The 32-year-old, who works as a loader and operator at the plant, said he's eager to resume his duties.
"It's a good place to work. Good bunch of guys," he said.
The Welland man said although the temporary layoff notice was unsatisfactory, it wasn't a shock to him and his colleagues.
"We knew it was coming," he said, adding the closure was needed for the factory to undergo improvements, which he called "amazing."
Patt wouldn't disclose how much the improvements cost, only saying that it was "another significant investment."
Elmira Independent - Odour complaints rise at Chemtura
Elmira Independent - Odour complaints rise at Chemtura
Just when officials at Chemtura are getting over the fallout from the chemical release of BLE 25 on Sept. 27, they have a new problem to contend with — the return of obnoxious odours from the Chemtura site.
The issue was raised at the Oct. 18 Chemtura Public Advisory Committee by Elmira resident Shannon Purves-Smith.
Purves-Smith told CPAC members that she reported the odour to the Spills Action Centre in Guelph, on three separate occasions.
She also spoke to a Duke Street resident, Jo Coblentz, who indicated that odour has become a regular problem in the evenings and weekends.
Purves-Smith asked Coblentz to give her a call the next time she noticed the odour. Purves-Smith visited Coblentz during the next odour incident.
“Immediately, I felt as if I had put my head in a bottle of household chemical,” said Purves-Smith. “It was like Mr. Clean without the lemon smell.
“This is a matter we had considered finished, but it is apparently not finished,” added Purves-Smith. “I want it dealt with.”
Jeff Merriman, an environmental engineer at Chemtura, told CPAC members that the company had received four odour complaints in the last month, up substantially from previous months. Three of the four complaints were confirmed by the company as likely emanating from Chemtura.
“Odours from our plant are unacceptable,” said Merriman. “We want to address this.”
Merriman reminded CPAC that the protocol that should be followed in the case of an odour complaint is to call the Spills Action Centre in Guelph (1-800-268-6060) and then call Chemtura (519-669-1671), reporting the concern to the shift supervisor.
“The shift supervisor is ready to go out into the community at a moment’s notice,” said Merriman, adding that air samples can also be taken during an incident.
Purves-Smith also reported concerns about being able to communicate with the Spills Action Centre, noting there were significant difficulties in making herself understood — and understanding the response — since the person who answered the phone had a very strong accent.
Just when officials at Chemtura are getting over the fallout from the chemical release of BLE 25 on Sept. 27, they have a new problem to contend with — the return of obnoxious odours from the Chemtura site.
The issue was raised at the Oct. 18 Chemtura Public Advisory Committee by Elmira resident Shannon Purves-Smith.
Purves-Smith told CPAC members that she reported the odour to the Spills Action Centre in Guelph, on three separate occasions.
She also spoke to a Duke Street resident, Jo Coblentz, who indicated that odour has become a regular problem in the evenings and weekends.
Purves-Smith asked Coblentz to give her a call the next time she noticed the odour. Purves-Smith visited Coblentz during the next odour incident.
“Immediately, I felt as if I had put my head in a bottle of household chemical,” said Purves-Smith. “It was like Mr. Clean without the lemon smell.
“This is a matter we had considered finished, but it is apparently not finished,” added Purves-Smith. “I want it dealt with.”
Jeff Merriman, an environmental engineer at Chemtura, told CPAC members that the company had received four odour complaints in the last month, up substantially from previous months. Three of the four complaints were confirmed by the company as likely emanating from Chemtura.
“Odours from our plant are unacceptable,” said Merriman. “We want to address this.”
Merriman reminded CPAC that the protocol that should be followed in the case of an odour complaint is to call the Spills Action Centre in Guelph (1-800-268-6060) and then call Chemtura (519-669-1671), reporting the concern to the shift supervisor.
“The shift supervisor is ready to go out into the community at a moment’s notice,” said Merriman, adding that air samples can also be taken during an incident.
Purves-Smith also reported concerns about being able to communicate with the Spills Action Centre, noting there were significant difficulties in making herself understood — and understanding the response — since the person who answered the phone had a very strong accent.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Report blames faulty bio-scrubber for Orgaworld odours in London
Report blames faulty bio-scrubber for Orgaworld odours in London: "The infamously odoriferous Orgaworld composting plant in London, Ont., owed a lot of its problems to a pool of stagnant water inside its bioscrubber — the very part of the plant that was supposed to be responsible for removing foul smells — a consultant’s report has found.
Why the London plant was so smelly matters in Ottawa because the company wants permission for its facility on Hawthorne Road to take diapers and waste in plastic bags. The City of Ottawa decided to forbid those materials in its green-bin program specifically out of concern that they’d make Ottawa’s compost too foul. The London plant, which takes diapers and bags, shut down in July due to odour problems, but re-opened this month after a major overhaul.
The “Root Cause Analysis” of the London stench, prepared by the environmental consulting company MWH, found that there was “little or no biological removal of odour” occurring inside the bioscrubber.
Inside the scrubber, there were high concentrations of ammonia and two “highly odorous compounds associated with the decomposition of organic matter” — hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl disulfide — were being created, the report found."
Why the London plant was so smelly matters in Ottawa because the company wants permission for its facility on Hawthorne Road to take diapers and waste in plastic bags. The City of Ottawa decided to forbid those materials in its green-bin program specifically out of concern that they’d make Ottawa’s compost too foul. The London plant, which takes diapers and bags, shut down in July due to odour problems, but re-opened this month after a major overhaul.
The “Root Cause Analysis” of the London stench, prepared by the environmental consulting company MWH, found that there was “little or no biological removal of odour” occurring inside the bioscrubber.
Inside the scrubber, there were high concentrations of ammonia and two “highly odorous compounds associated with the decomposition of organic matter” — hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl disulfide — were being created, the report found."
Residents experience foul tap water odor | abc7.com
Residents experience foul tap water odor | abc7.com: "Pacific Palisades, Calif. (KABC) -- Customers of the Department of Water and Power (DWP) in Pacific Palisades are experiencing some strange smelling tap water.
But DWP officials say there is no reason to worry. They say the odors are a result of a recent algal bloom in the Santa Ynez reservoir.
The reservoir was already scheduled to be removed from service in November to prepare for the installation of a permanent floating cover.
Officials say that covering the reservoir is going to protect water quality and prevent future algal blooms."
But DWP officials say there is no reason to worry. They say the odors are a result of a recent algal bloom in the Santa Ynez reservoir.
The reservoir was already scheduled to be removed from service in November to prepare for the installation of a permanent floating cover.
Officials say that covering the reservoir is going to protect water quality and prevent future algal blooms."
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Morinville News � Blog Archive � Bertschi and Trapani differ on dealing with odour problem
Morinville News � Blog Archive � Bertschi and Trapani differ on dealing with odour problem: "“Keeping up the smell in this town is not good for anybody,” Trapani said. “People’s going to move out and nobody’s going to want to move in. So me and the council in the future, you know on October 26, when they come to visit, the ultimatum is fix it or move out.”
Although the comment received a solid round of applause, it also generated some mumbling of surprise in the crowd. The comment was in stark contrast to what the candidate told residents of South Glen in a community forum the previous night. At that time, Trapani was vocal in his opposition to the odour and in his desire to see the problem fixed sooner rather than later.
“I don’t want to be in the position to tell them to pack up and leave, but I want to be in the position to help the business do what they’re supposed to be doing and make our life a lot easier,” Trapani had said in South Glens Oct. 12.
Bertschi, who is employed as a sales representative at neighbouring RV City, told attendees that he’s had customers, who had travelled to Morinville to look at product, leave after viewing only a couple units, unable to continue due to the smell."
Although the comment received a solid round of applause, it also generated some mumbling of surprise in the crowd. The comment was in stark contrast to what the candidate told residents of South Glen in a community forum the previous night. At that time, Trapani was vocal in his opposition to the odour and in his desire to see the problem fixed sooner rather than later.
“I don’t want to be in the position to tell them to pack up and leave, but I want to be in the position to help the business do what they’re supposed to be doing and make our life a lot easier,” Trapani had said in South Glens Oct. 12.
Bertschi, who is employed as a sales representative at neighbouring RV City, told attendees that he’s had customers, who had travelled to Morinville to look at product, leave after viewing only a couple units, unable to continue due to the smell."
AFP: Mister Donut store falls foul of Taiwan odour inspectors
AFP: Mister Donut store falls foul of Taiwan odour inspectors: "TAIPEI — A Mister Donut store in Taiwan has been fined thousands of dollars for 'smell pollution' after neighbours complained that the aroma of the sweet fried pastries was overpowering, an official said Thursday.
The shop operated by food giant President Chain Store Corp. must pay 100,000 Taiwan dollars (3,300 US) after inspectors checked out the complaints, showing that it is not only bad smells which fall foul of environmental regulations, the Taipei city official told AFP.
'Our team of odour inspectors ruled that the smell from the store was above regulated level after receiving complaints from nearby residents that it was too much for them,' she said.
Previously such fines have been imposed mainly on companies which most people would agree emitted a disagreeable smell, such as eateries offering 'stinky tofu', or deep-fried bean curd.
The Taipei odour inspectors have no sophisticated equipment to guide them, but rely on their noses. However, they operate in groups of six to ensure the fairness of their findings."
The shop operated by food giant President Chain Store Corp. must pay 100,000 Taiwan dollars (3,300 US) after inspectors checked out the complaints, showing that it is not only bad smells which fall foul of environmental regulations, the Taipei city official told AFP.
'Our team of odour inspectors ruled that the smell from the store was above regulated level after receiving complaints from nearby residents that it was too much for them,' she said.
Previously such fines have been imposed mainly on companies which most people would agree emitted a disagreeable smell, such as eateries offering 'stinky tofu', or deep-fried bean curd.
The Taipei odour inspectors have no sophisticated equipment to guide them, but rely on their noses. However, they operate in groups of six to ensure the fairness of their findings."
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality.To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."Buckminster Fuller
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Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Sewer woes to cut meatworks output
Cargill Beef in Wagga Wagga has to introduce a $13 million wastewater treatment system and cut its killing capacity after its sewer treatment system failed last year.
The pollution improvement works will result in almost a 20 per cent cut in the abattoir's daily kill.
Cargill had approval to kill 2,000 head of cattle a day but that has been reduced to a maximum of 1,600 head by Planning New South Wales.
The department has granted Cargill approval to do works to reduce odours and improve wastewater quality by building a new wastewater treatment system.
There are 104 conditions of approval for the $13 million upgrade.
Cargill says the Planning Department directive does not affect jobs because it is killing only 1,250 head of cattle a day.
The deputy director general of the Planning Department, Richard Pearson, says there has been a history of odour complaints about the Bomen meat processor.
"There have over the years been ongoing issues raised in relation to the odour impacts of the abattoir and in relation to water quality," he said.
"It came to a bit of a head in 2009 last year when there was a failure at their sewer treatment system."
Mr Pearson says the new system is a win for Cargill's neighbours.
"It is important that businesses such as this manage their impacts effectively," he said.
"Odour is a particular issue for people who surround these kinds of developments so I think this will be a good outcome for those people as well."
The pollution improvement works will result in almost a 20 per cent cut in the abattoir's daily kill.
Cargill had approval to kill 2,000 head of cattle a day but that has been reduced to a maximum of 1,600 head by Planning New South Wales.
The department has granted Cargill approval to do works to reduce odours and improve wastewater quality by building a new wastewater treatment system.
There are 104 conditions of approval for the $13 million upgrade.
Cargill says the Planning Department directive does not affect jobs because it is killing only 1,250 head of cattle a day.
The deputy director general of the Planning Department, Richard Pearson, says there has been a history of odour complaints about the Bomen meat processor.
"There have over the years been ongoing issues raised in relation to the odour impacts of the abattoir and in relation to water quality," he said.
"It came to a bit of a head in 2009 last year when there was a failure at their sewer treatment system."
Mr Pearson says the new system is a win for Cargill's neighbours.
"It is important that businesses such as this manage their impacts effectively," he said.
"Odour is a particular issue for people who surround these kinds of developments so I think this will be a good outcome for those people as well."
Smell like roses!
What if on a date the girl starts ignoring you when she meets you? Is it that she doesn’t like your face, dressing sense or body odour? Many times one often ignores the problems body odour causes — it can be a big turn off.
After Hrs talks to experts and celebs on dealing with this.
Dermatologist Dr Rohini Wadhwani says, “Body odour is caused by various reasons like poor hygiene, genetics, medication, heavy physical activity, pungent food (garlic and other spices), certain medication, stress, hormonal problems, alcohol and tobacco abuse or even dental problems. A good tip is to use a baby powder or anti-bacterial powder after bath, especially under the arms.
Remove, shave or wax underarm hair off to reduce body odour.Deodorants contain anti-bacterial agents that kill the bacteria which give rise to body odour, as against anti-perspirants which block pores. One may use tea tree oil or rose water in your bath water as their lingering fragrance takes care of the odour. Also remember to wear clean undergarments.”
Skin expert Dr Sunita Dube, says, “Body odour is considered an offensive smell, given off by most adults who are sweating. It is often perceived as a sign of poor personal hygiene that can be unattractive to theopposite sex. It can have disastrous consequences, like ruining your professional image with a client. Since men sweat more than women, they are the worst affected. I feel body odour can arise to poor hygiene or a genetic disorder. I had a patient aged 32, who had severe bad odour with an
excessive ‘fishy’ smell coming from her body. It became more prominent since adulthood and she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called trimethylaminuria, or ‘fish odour syndrome,’ that causes a patient to produce a fish-like odour, not only in a person’s breath, but also in sweat and urine. So it can be genetic too hence it’s necessary to consult a doctor and seek guidance in such cases.”
Actor Kim Sharma says, “Bad body odour is always a turn off, it is a situation where you can’t even tell the person about it and simply walking out in the a middle of a conversation with that person would be rude.”
For actor Koena Mitra body odour is a turn off. She advises, “Carry a deodorant to keep yourself fresh. Also be conscious as people tend to form an image about the person and the game of avoiding starts from day one when the situation arises.”
After Hrs talks to experts and celebs on dealing with this.
Dermatologist Dr Rohini Wadhwani says, “Body odour is caused by various reasons like poor hygiene, genetics, medication, heavy physical activity, pungent food (garlic and other spices), certain medication, stress, hormonal problems, alcohol and tobacco abuse or even dental problems. A good tip is to use a baby powder or anti-bacterial powder after bath, especially under the arms.
Remove, shave or wax underarm hair off to reduce body odour.Deodorants contain anti-bacterial agents that kill the bacteria which give rise to body odour, as against anti-perspirants which block pores. One may use tea tree oil or rose water in your bath water as their lingering fragrance takes care of the odour. Also remember to wear clean undergarments.”
Skin expert Dr Sunita Dube, says, “Body odour is considered an offensive smell, given off by most adults who are sweating. It is often perceived as a sign of poor personal hygiene that can be unattractive to theopposite sex. It can have disastrous consequences, like ruining your professional image with a client. Since men sweat more than women, they are the worst affected. I feel body odour can arise to poor hygiene or a genetic disorder. I had a patient aged 32, who had severe bad odour with an
excessive ‘fishy’ smell coming from her body. It became more prominent since adulthood and she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called trimethylaminuria, or ‘fish odour syndrome,’ that causes a patient to produce a fish-like odour, not only in a person’s breath, but also in sweat and urine. So it can be genetic too hence it’s necessary to consult a doctor and seek guidance in such cases.”
Actor Kim Sharma says, “Bad body odour is always a turn off, it is a situation where you can’t even tell the person about it and simply walking out in the a middle of a conversation with that person would be rude.”
For actor Koena Mitra body odour is a turn off. She advises, “Carry a deodorant to keep yourself fresh. Also be conscious as people tend to form an image about the person and the game of avoiding starts from day one when the situation arises.”
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Metro Vancouver odour bylaw in the works
Metro Vancouver staff are drafting a bylaw in the latest round pitting the regional body against West Coast Reduction’s rendering plant at the foot of Commercial Drive.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver Courier
Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal is “cautiously optimistic” Metro Vancouver can draft an odour bylaw that will finally quiet complaints about a stink dozens of Grandview Woodlands residents blame on West Coast Reduction’s rendering plant at the foot of Commercial Drive.
The stench worsens during hot weather and for years it’s generated hundreds of calls to Metro Vancouver, which is responsible for the region’s air quality.
Metro Vancouver tried amending the plant’s air emission permit through limiting “odour units”—a method accepted in the European Union, but the provincial Environmental Appeal Board ruled in March that odour units are unreasonable and unenforceable.
Last week, Ray Robb, Metro Vancouver’s division manager in the policy and planning department, told members of the regional district’s environment and energy committee, of which Deal is a member, that he’s drawing up an odour bylaw for the district board’s consideration.
Such a bylaw, which cannot be appealed through the EAB, could also apply to other operations that emit odour. Early candidates for the regulation include fish feed manufacturing and “composting and aerobic/anaerobic digestion of putrescible wastes,” according to the report. Metro Vancouver expects odour problems to grow as more organic solid waste is diverted from landfill and incineration. The regulation may include fees to reflect polluter-pay and user-pay principles, so taxpayers don’t have to subsidize the regulation of such industries.
The environment minister could still overturn the bylaw and West Coast Reduction could challenge it through the courts, but Deal is nonetheless hopeful it’s the answer.
“[The EAB] rejected odour units, so we need to find another tool. That could be a technological fix that says in order to control odour you must have your material at this temperature during transportation, as this temperature during the heating process,” she said. “West Coast Reduction is an important part of our industrial landscape in Vancouver. It’s absolutely necessary in the region and we want to make sure they continue to be good neighbours.”
Deal acknowledged it’s been a frustrating fight for residents, but gave WCC credit for investing in technological advances in past years to address odour complaints.
Although some critics argue such a plant shouldn’t exist in an urban area, Deal maintains its presence is important.
“It’s an important industry and a good employer in the city of Vancouver,” she said. “We don’t want to kick any industries that are difficult to live near out of the city because that includes a whole lot of things we rely on economically and that create jobs. I think the answer is to find a way to keep them compatible. Again, there are going to be industries with scents in the future as we come up with more ways of dealing with our organics rather than just throwing them in the garbage.”
West Coast Reduction operates at 105 North Commercial Dr. on land leased from Port Metro Vancouver.
The Port has handled few odour complaints since it launched a community complaint line on Oct. 14, 2009. Between January and June 2010, only two calls related to West Coast Reduction out of 156 calls, most of which focused on noise from the port.
Chris Badger, chief operating officer of Port Metro Vancouver, can’t reveal detailed information about the lease agreement because it’s a confidential contract.
Badger said the Port has been involved in discussions about residents’ odour concerns, and it’s among organizations trying to resolve the issues, but it doesn’t want to duplicate work done by Metro Vancouver.
“But you’ve also got to look at the rights of the industry as well. Clearly, the appeal board is there for a reason and they appealed in a legal way and it was dealt with in the normal process,” he said.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver Courier
Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal is “cautiously optimistic” Metro Vancouver can draft an odour bylaw that will finally quiet complaints about a stink dozens of Grandview Woodlands residents blame on West Coast Reduction’s rendering plant at the foot of Commercial Drive.
The stench worsens during hot weather and for years it’s generated hundreds of calls to Metro Vancouver, which is responsible for the region’s air quality.
Metro Vancouver tried amending the plant’s air emission permit through limiting “odour units”—a method accepted in the European Union, but the provincial Environmental Appeal Board ruled in March that odour units are unreasonable and unenforceable.
Last week, Ray Robb, Metro Vancouver’s division manager in the policy and planning department, told members of the regional district’s environment and energy committee, of which Deal is a member, that he’s drawing up an odour bylaw for the district board’s consideration.
Such a bylaw, which cannot be appealed through the EAB, could also apply to other operations that emit odour. Early candidates for the regulation include fish feed manufacturing and “composting and aerobic/anaerobic digestion of putrescible wastes,” according to the report. Metro Vancouver expects odour problems to grow as more organic solid waste is diverted from landfill and incineration. The regulation may include fees to reflect polluter-pay and user-pay principles, so taxpayers don’t have to subsidize the regulation of such industries.
The environment minister could still overturn the bylaw and West Coast Reduction could challenge it through the courts, but Deal is nonetheless hopeful it’s the answer.
“[The EAB] rejected odour units, so we need to find another tool. That could be a technological fix that says in order to control odour you must have your material at this temperature during transportation, as this temperature during the heating process,” she said. “West Coast Reduction is an important part of our industrial landscape in Vancouver. It’s absolutely necessary in the region and we want to make sure they continue to be good neighbours.”
Deal acknowledged it’s been a frustrating fight for residents, but gave WCC credit for investing in technological advances in past years to address odour complaints.
Although some critics argue such a plant shouldn’t exist in an urban area, Deal maintains its presence is important.
“It’s an important industry and a good employer in the city of Vancouver,” she said. “We don’t want to kick any industries that are difficult to live near out of the city because that includes a whole lot of things we rely on economically and that create jobs. I think the answer is to find a way to keep them compatible. Again, there are going to be industries with scents in the future as we come up with more ways of dealing with our organics rather than just throwing them in the garbage.”
West Coast Reduction operates at 105 North Commercial Dr. on land leased from Port Metro Vancouver.
The Port has handled few odour complaints since it launched a community complaint line on Oct. 14, 2009. Between January and June 2010, only two calls related to West Coast Reduction out of 156 calls, most of which focused on noise from the port.
Chris Badger, chief operating officer of Port Metro Vancouver, can’t reveal detailed information about the lease agreement because it’s a confidential contract.
Badger said the Port has been involved in discussions about residents’ odour concerns, and it’s among organizations trying to resolve the issues, but it doesn’t want to duplicate work done by Metro Vancouver.
“But you’ve also got to look at the rights of the industry as well. Clearly, the appeal board is there for a reason and they appealed in a legal way and it was dealt with in the normal process,” he said.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Soil clean up at chemical plant causes unpleasant smell
Foul smells from the clean-up of a former agricultural chemical factory in Cambridgeshire has led to protests from residents.
The factory, established in Hauxton in the 1940s, produced pesticides and herbicides.
Chemicals contaminated the ground and South Cambridgeshire District Council must clean it up before houses can be built there.
Disturbing the chemicals has caused the smells, a spokesman said.
"As the contaminated soils are dug they can release odours that had previously been trapped underground," he said.
Local people told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and local news media saying they were not getting the answers they needed about the cause of the smells.
Work on the contaminated ground will be completed in September 2010.
The Environment Agency and South Cambridgeshire District Council have created dedicated web pages to provide information on the situation.
Residents have been told the odour is unlikely to pose a health risk.
However, a shopkeeper in the village said she was told by doctors to close down and stay away because of the "noxious fumes".
Jackie Garfitt said she was told by doctors her health had been affected.
Dozens of people living in Hauxton have made similar claims.
South Cambridgeshire District Council said the fumes are unlikely to pose a health risk.
The factory, established in Hauxton in the 1940s, produced pesticides and herbicides.
Chemicals contaminated the ground and South Cambridgeshire District Council must clean it up before houses can be built there.
Disturbing the chemicals has caused the smells, a spokesman said.
"As the contaminated soils are dug they can release odours that had previously been trapped underground," he said.
Local people told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and local news media saying they were not getting the answers they needed about the cause of the smells.
Work on the contaminated ground will be completed in September 2010.
The Environment Agency and South Cambridgeshire District Council have created dedicated web pages to provide information on the situation.
Residents have been told the odour is unlikely to pose a health risk.
However, a shopkeeper in the village said she was told by doctors to close down and stay away because of the "noxious fumes".
Jackie Garfitt said she was told by doctors her health had been affected.
Dozens of people living in Hauxton have made similar claims.
South Cambridgeshire District Council said the fumes are unlikely to pose a health risk.
Macarthur tip stink spurs $1m fix
MORE than $1million will be spent in the next three months to reduce odour emissions at the Macarthur Resource Recovery Park in Narellan.
WSN Environmental Solutions will work to reduce odour emissions by improving gas extraction from the landfill area.
Last month the Camden Advertiser reported that residents in Narellan Vale, Mount Annan and Narellan had noticed the smell from the park had increased in the past nine months.
A WSN spokeswoman said the company regretted that the odour performance had not met community expectations and action was being taken to urgently fix the problem.
``The project involves installing 20 additional gas wells on the landfill area and will reduce odours emanating from the site by enabling the existing system to capture significantly more gas emitted from the landfilled material,'' she said.
``Work commenced on May 24 and will continue for approximately six weeks. While every preventative effort will be made, there is potential for odour to be generated during the work.''
WSN Environmental Solutions' CEO Ken Kanofski thanked locals for their patience while the work was under way.
``We are confident that the increased gas capture will be a key component in reducing the impact of odour experienced recently,'' he said.
Other measures to control the odour include reduced operating hours, upgrades to the process water treatment, odour management systems in the mixed waste facility and an odour destruction fence which will soon be erected.
The odours will be closely monitored.
WSN Environmental Solutions will work to reduce odour emissions by improving gas extraction from the landfill area.
Last month the Camden Advertiser reported that residents in Narellan Vale, Mount Annan and Narellan had noticed the smell from the park had increased in the past nine months.
A WSN spokeswoman said the company regretted that the odour performance had not met community expectations and action was being taken to urgently fix the problem.
``The project involves installing 20 additional gas wells on the landfill area and will reduce odours emanating from the site by enabling the existing system to capture significantly more gas emitted from the landfilled material,'' she said.
``Work commenced on May 24 and will continue for approximately six weeks. While every preventative effort will be made, there is potential for odour to be generated during the work.''
WSN Environmental Solutions' CEO Ken Kanofski thanked locals for their patience while the work was under way.
``We are confident that the increased gas capture will be a key component in reducing the impact of odour experienced recently,'' he said.
Other measures to control the odour include reduced operating hours, upgrades to the process water treatment, odour management systems in the mixed waste facility and an odour destruction fence which will soon be erected.
The odours will be closely monitored.
On the nose
PAKENHAM’S sickening stink has returned with a vengeance.
Cardinia Shire Council fielded ‘a handful’ of complaints about the stench last week, when some residents noted the smell around Bald Hill Road and the Henty Park estate.
Business owner Michael Porter said the smell had returned after a brief hiatus.
“It gets inside our factory and then we can’t get it out, the workers are sick of it and so am I. It seems to be in the mornings and evenings. It has been fairly good for a few months but this last fortnight it is back with a vengeance,” he said.
Pakenham resident Nola Ellis said the stench had been blanketing Henty Park since Sunday afternoon.
“It smells like compost to us, rotten,” she said.
Fellow resident Joanne Miles described the smell as ‘mouldy old rubbish’ while Jacqui Haysom said it was more like ‘rotting bodies.’
Karen Muntz said it smelt like a cover-up. “It smells like garbage that’s had eucalyptus leaves mulched through it, like they are trying to cover the smell … it really makes it smell odd and made me gag while I was driving,” she said.
And while some people are certain of the stink, others living in the same areas say the smell is not so bad.
Christian Smith said he lived off Bald Hill Road but wasn’t offended by the smell.
“At least once a year we get smells from the surrounding farms. I think people need to harden up,” he said. Melanie Leighton said the smell had been in Pakenham on and off for 28 years, while Christian Smith said it just smelt like chicken poo.
“It’s not that bad. The people complaining obviously haven’t been to a farm,” he said.
But a new Pakenham resident said she was ‘nearly sick’ after the smell seeped into the house.
“I’ve never experienced this before … it’s not the best advertisement for the town,” she said.
Cardinia Shire Council spokesman Paul Dunlop said the council understood residents’ concerns and was working towards a solution.
“We have previously worked with business operators and the EPA to reduce odours emanating from local business operators and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.
“Appropriate action will be taken to address any unauthorised activity relating to odours recognised as a nuisance or which have emanated as a result of a breach of planning regulations.
“We value residents’ opinions and are committed to open, honest, two-way communication.
If residents feel a particular smell is stronger on some days than others, they are encouraged to contact council on 1300 787 624.
We ask residents to take note of the time of day, wind direction, odour type and strength and where they believe it is originating from.”
Cardinia Shire Council fielded ‘a handful’ of complaints about the stench last week, when some residents noted the smell around Bald Hill Road and the Henty Park estate.
Business owner Michael Porter said the smell had returned after a brief hiatus.
“It gets inside our factory and then we can’t get it out, the workers are sick of it and so am I. It seems to be in the mornings and evenings. It has been fairly good for a few months but this last fortnight it is back with a vengeance,” he said.
Pakenham resident Nola Ellis said the stench had been blanketing Henty Park since Sunday afternoon.
“It smells like compost to us, rotten,” she said.
Fellow resident Joanne Miles described the smell as ‘mouldy old rubbish’ while Jacqui Haysom said it was more like ‘rotting bodies.’
Karen Muntz said it smelt like a cover-up. “It smells like garbage that’s had eucalyptus leaves mulched through it, like they are trying to cover the smell … it really makes it smell odd and made me gag while I was driving,” she said.
And while some people are certain of the stink, others living in the same areas say the smell is not so bad.
Christian Smith said he lived off Bald Hill Road but wasn’t offended by the smell.
“At least once a year we get smells from the surrounding farms. I think people need to harden up,” he said. Melanie Leighton said the smell had been in Pakenham on and off for 28 years, while Christian Smith said it just smelt like chicken poo.
“It’s not that bad. The people complaining obviously haven’t been to a farm,” he said.
But a new Pakenham resident said she was ‘nearly sick’ after the smell seeped into the house.
“I’ve never experienced this before … it’s not the best advertisement for the town,” she said.
Cardinia Shire Council spokesman Paul Dunlop said the council understood residents’ concerns and was working towards a solution.
“We have previously worked with business operators and the EPA to reduce odours emanating from local business operators and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.
“Appropriate action will be taken to address any unauthorised activity relating to odours recognised as a nuisance or which have emanated as a result of a breach of planning regulations.
“We value residents’ opinions and are committed to open, honest, two-way communication.
If residents feel a particular smell is stronger on some days than others, they are encouraged to contact council on 1300 787 624.
We ask residents to take note of the time of day, wind direction, odour type and strength and where they believe it is originating from.”
Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Town looking to find source of odour eminating from catch basins
Residents living around the Avenues and Riverview Drive are not happy with the smell of sewage in the area that is so strong, it often prevents them from enjoying the outdoors.
Arnprior council recently received letters from several residents in the area complaining about the “potent sewage odour” and “disgusting odour of sewage” in the neighbourhood. Several indicated “most days, the smell is so obnoxious we are unable to enjoy the outdoors.”
“We’ve got Public Works and waterworks working on the issue,” explained Janet Collins, director of Public Works. “It is going to become quite a large procedure.”
According to residents, the smell emanates from catch basins and not the pumping station and Collins agreed.
Arnprior council recently received letters from several residents in the area complaining about the “potent sewage odour” and “disgusting odour of sewage” in the neighbourhood. Several indicated “most days, the smell is so obnoxious we are unable to enjoy the outdoors.”
“We’ve got Public Works and waterworks working on the issue,” explained Janet Collins, director of Public Works. “It is going to become quite a large procedure.”
According to residents, the smell emanates from catch basins and not the pumping station and Collins agreed.
Offensive odour
Someone! Anyone! Help! I was forced to endure a one-hour flight sitting next to a sharp-looking gentleman. He was dressed in crisp, clean clothes and polished shoes. He sported a fashionable watch and he had well-trimmed hair, clean nails, a ready smile, and kind eyes. He also STANK!!!
Someone! Anyone! Please tell me what is going on! I regularly train emerging leaders on how to deliver unpleasant news or give performance feedback to their subordinates in a respectful way. One of the most popular, yet distressing exercises I use in developing this skill is a simulation of being sent by your colleagues to inform a team member that s/he has bad body odour! Very few people want to do it, and even fewer know how to do it well - even with guidance. Sometimes it is hard to tell from the squirming going on, whether it is the person giving the feedback who is most uncomfortable, or the poor person being told that they have been perfuming the air with ‘eau de putrid’ - the strong and lingering aroma of rotten boiled eggs, wet carpet and vomit.
I have had occasion to very kindly and respectfully advise staff, colleagues and service providers to avail themselves of the use of a deodorant that is conveniently at hand in my drawer, in my bag, or in my guest toilet. But what is the protocol when the offence to the nostrils and to one’s comfort is being committed in a public space or when the offender is a complete stranger?
Let’s go back to the aeroplane. Confronted by Mr Odoriferous, I felt supremely sorry for myself, sorrier for my fellow passengers (don’t ask me why), and sorry for the crew whose work space had been infiltrated. You find that, in times of adversity, solidarity forms instantaneously, and it happened here too. Speaking glances, grimaces, and shows of sympathy flew back and forth amongst the newly formed fellowship of suffering passengers. Still, no one said anything.
Shouldn’t there be rules about this sort of thing?
Business etiquette teaches you suitable dress for the workplace. Could there not be etiquette about appropriate personal hygiene in public? Could Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards against air pollution be expanded to include odious body odour? Anyone who has been trapped in a lift, a car, or a bus with someone reeking of unwashed flesh knows what I am talking about.
Don’t get me wrong; I doubt if anyone sane would step out of their abode smelling bad. On enough occasions, the offender is not even aware that s/he is smelling. Once they are informed, the majority are mortified and take immediate action to suppress it.
Other times, body odour is simply a function of lifestyle - the combination of humidity, working outdoors in the heat and sun, sweat, and wearing clothes that were not completely dried after washing. Many cannot afford to buy deodorants and powders, and have to rely on their morning baths or rubbing lemon and other native remedies. This is not adequate in our climate if you are physically active or move around a lot outdoors.
Yet, some people simply won’t scrub their bodies, wash their clothes or change their underclothes daily. Others do not shave their underarm hair, wash their hair regularly or clean themselves properly after ‘easing’ themselves. It is pure carelessness.
A friend asked me why the body odour here is so much worse (in her estimation) than in the Western world. Well, for starters, how a person smells when they sweat is affected by what we eat and drink. In the Western world, their food is partially uncooked, like salads, and mostly bland to the taste. Our food is generally boiled or fried, and pungent with spices. Hence ‘pungent’ sweat.
An unfunny joke
Secondly, our odour also has to do with the quality of the air. Our air quality here is poor. We breathe in all kinds of pollutants from vehicles, generators and badly disposed waste. Those toxins find their way out of our bodies in our sweat.
Thirdly, our public transport system is choked with people rubbing up against each other. Workers trek long distances to bus stops, they wait and sweat in the sun, they squash into cars, buses, and onto the backs of trucks. Is it any wonder that they do not arrive at their destinations smelling fresh and fragrant?
Let’s go back to the aeroplane again. In situations where the cabin air quality has been compromised by a reeking passenger, what should the crew do? Should they behave the way up-market restaurants with a strict dress code do? They have a stock of jackets and ties to lend to patrons who arrive without them. Could the crew legitimately invite the ‘oozing’ passenger to make use of their stock of deodorants and fabric fresheners in the cabin toilets, and deny the person service until they co-operate?
I don’t have the answers but, really, we should do something. Anything. This joke is no longer funny. Life is too stressful to have to put up with a corrupting presence in close quarters. Let’s find a way to deal with the offence while respecting the sensibilities of the offender
Someone! Anyone! Please tell me what is going on! I regularly train emerging leaders on how to deliver unpleasant news or give performance feedback to their subordinates in a respectful way. One of the most popular, yet distressing exercises I use in developing this skill is a simulation of being sent by your colleagues to inform a team member that s/he has bad body odour! Very few people want to do it, and even fewer know how to do it well - even with guidance. Sometimes it is hard to tell from the squirming going on, whether it is the person giving the feedback who is most uncomfortable, or the poor person being told that they have been perfuming the air with ‘eau de putrid’ - the strong and lingering aroma of rotten boiled eggs, wet carpet and vomit.
I have had occasion to very kindly and respectfully advise staff, colleagues and service providers to avail themselves of the use of a deodorant that is conveniently at hand in my drawer, in my bag, or in my guest toilet. But what is the protocol when the offence to the nostrils and to one’s comfort is being committed in a public space or when the offender is a complete stranger?
Let’s go back to the aeroplane. Confronted by Mr Odoriferous, I felt supremely sorry for myself, sorrier for my fellow passengers (don’t ask me why), and sorry for the crew whose work space had been infiltrated. You find that, in times of adversity, solidarity forms instantaneously, and it happened here too. Speaking glances, grimaces, and shows of sympathy flew back and forth amongst the newly formed fellowship of suffering passengers. Still, no one said anything.
Shouldn’t there be rules about this sort of thing?
Business etiquette teaches you suitable dress for the workplace. Could there not be etiquette about appropriate personal hygiene in public? Could Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards against air pollution be expanded to include odious body odour? Anyone who has been trapped in a lift, a car, or a bus with someone reeking of unwashed flesh knows what I am talking about.
Don’t get me wrong; I doubt if anyone sane would step out of their abode smelling bad. On enough occasions, the offender is not even aware that s/he is smelling. Once they are informed, the majority are mortified and take immediate action to suppress it.
Other times, body odour is simply a function of lifestyle - the combination of humidity, working outdoors in the heat and sun, sweat, and wearing clothes that were not completely dried after washing. Many cannot afford to buy deodorants and powders, and have to rely on their morning baths or rubbing lemon and other native remedies. This is not adequate in our climate if you are physically active or move around a lot outdoors.
Yet, some people simply won’t scrub their bodies, wash their clothes or change their underclothes daily. Others do not shave their underarm hair, wash their hair regularly or clean themselves properly after ‘easing’ themselves. It is pure carelessness.
A friend asked me why the body odour here is so much worse (in her estimation) than in the Western world. Well, for starters, how a person smells when they sweat is affected by what we eat and drink. In the Western world, their food is partially uncooked, like salads, and mostly bland to the taste. Our food is generally boiled or fried, and pungent with spices. Hence ‘pungent’ sweat.
An unfunny joke
Secondly, our odour also has to do with the quality of the air. Our air quality here is poor. We breathe in all kinds of pollutants from vehicles, generators and badly disposed waste. Those toxins find their way out of our bodies in our sweat.
Thirdly, our public transport system is choked with people rubbing up against each other. Workers trek long distances to bus stops, they wait and sweat in the sun, they squash into cars, buses, and onto the backs of trucks. Is it any wonder that they do not arrive at their destinations smelling fresh and fragrant?
Let’s go back to the aeroplane again. In situations where the cabin air quality has been compromised by a reeking passenger, what should the crew do? Should they behave the way up-market restaurants with a strict dress code do? They have a stock of jackets and ties to lend to patrons who arrive without them. Could the crew legitimately invite the ‘oozing’ passenger to make use of their stock of deodorants and fabric fresheners in the cabin toilets, and deny the person service until they co-operate?
I don’t have the answers but, really, we should do something. Anything. This joke is no longer funny. Life is too stressful to have to put up with a corrupting presence in close quarters. Let’s find a way to deal with the offence while respecting the sensibilities of the offender
High Court closes landfill
The High Court has granted an order allowing for the immediate forced closure of that nation’s most complained about landfill.
The Environmental Protection Agency had sought the order before the court to close down the licensed landfill near Naas in Co Kildare.
Both locals and national lobby groups have long been seeking the closure of the offending landfill in Naas as it omits a particularly foul order and is thought to be an environmental hazard.
The manager of the landfill said that if the High Court order was granted that his company would have to go into insolvency, but the judgement made clear that there was an overwhelming tide of opposition to the landfill as well as a foul odour which diffused throughout the surrounding area.
Mr Justice Sean Ryan said the situation was extremely serious as there had been breaches of the law in operating the facility.
He refused the company’s application to lift the injunction from last February and he granted a further injunction to the EPA to prevent waste from being taken into the site.
The Environmental Protection Agency had sought the order before the court to close down the licensed landfill near Naas in Co Kildare.
Both locals and national lobby groups have long been seeking the closure of the offending landfill in Naas as it omits a particularly foul order and is thought to be an environmental hazard.
The manager of the landfill said that if the High Court order was granted that his company would have to go into insolvency, but the judgement made clear that there was an overwhelming tide of opposition to the landfill as well as a foul odour which diffused throughout the surrounding area.
Mr Justice Sean Ryan said the situation was extremely serious as there had been breaches of the law in operating the facility.
He refused the company’s application to lift the injunction from last February and he granted a further injunction to the EPA to prevent waste from being taken into the site.
Cement factory sparks protest
Hundreds of people have held a protest rally near a cement factory in Perth's south, over concerns about corrosive dust and odour.
The Member for Cockburn, Fran Logan says more than 50 complaints have been lodged with the Department of Environment and Protection this year.
He says some people who live near the factory in Munster have had blood noses, headaches and breathing difficulties.
He has called for immediate action against the operators, Cockburn Cement, and accused the Environment Minister Donna Faragher of sitting on her hands.
Ms Faragher has rejected the claims.
"I am aware of those concerns that have been raised by the community and that is why the department is putting forward and proposing a much stricter licence," she said.
"They are also working with the Department of Health as well and that's the appropriate action."
The Member for Cockburn, Fran Logan says more than 50 complaints have been lodged with the Department of Environment and Protection this year.
He says some people who live near the factory in Munster have had blood noses, headaches and breathing difficulties.
He has called for immediate action against the operators, Cockburn Cement, and accused the Environment Minister Donna Faragher of sitting on her hands.
Ms Faragher has rejected the claims.
"I am aware of those concerns that have been raised by the community and that is why the department is putting forward and proposing a much stricter licence," she said.
"They are also working with the Department of Health as well and that's the appropriate action."
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
How specific odours alter an organism's lifespan
Specific odours that represent food or indicate danger trigger a small number of highly specialised sensory neurons that can alter an animal's lifespan and physiological profile, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, University of Houston, and Baylor College of Medicine.
Recent research in model organisms and in humans has shown that sensory experiences can impact a wide range of health-related characteristics including athletic performance, type II diabetes, and aging.
Nematode worms and fruit flies that were robbed of their ability to smell or taste, for example, lived substantially longer.
However, the specific odours and sensory receptors that control this effect on aging were unknown.
The researchers used molecular genetics in combination with behavioural and environmental manipulations, and successfully identified carbon dioxide (CO2) as the first well-defined odorant capable of altering physiology and affecting aging.
Flies incapable of smelling CO2 live longer than flies with normal olfactory capabilities.
They are also resistant to stress and have increased body fat. To many insects, including fruit flies, CO2 represents an ecologically important odour cue that indicates the presence of food (eg rotting fruit or animal blood) or neighbours in distress (it has been implicated as a stress pheromone).
The researchers previously showed that merely sensing one's normal food source is capable of reversing the health and longevity benefits that are associated with a low calorie diet.
They now establish that CO2 is responsible for this effect.
"We are working hard to understand how sensory perception affects health, and our new result really narrows the playing field. Somehow these 50 or so neurons, whose primary job it is to sense CO2, are capable of instigating changes that accelerate aging throughout the organism," said Scott Pletcher.
Sensory perception has been shown to impact aging in species that are separated by millions of years of evolution, suggesting that similar effects may be seen in humans.
"For us, it may not be the smell of yeast, for example, or the sensing of CO2 that affects how long we live, but it may be the perception of food or danger," said Pletcher.
If so, a clever program of controlled perceptual experience might form the basis of a simple yet powerful program of disease prevention and healthy aging.
The study has been published in the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology.
Recent research in model organisms and in humans has shown that sensory experiences can impact a wide range of health-related characteristics including athletic performance, type II diabetes, and aging.
Nematode worms and fruit flies that were robbed of their ability to smell or taste, for example, lived substantially longer.
However, the specific odours and sensory receptors that control this effect on aging were unknown.
The researchers used molecular genetics in combination with behavioural and environmental manipulations, and successfully identified carbon dioxide (CO2) as the first well-defined odorant capable of altering physiology and affecting aging.
Flies incapable of smelling CO2 live longer than flies with normal olfactory capabilities.
They are also resistant to stress and have increased body fat. To many insects, including fruit flies, CO2 represents an ecologically important odour cue that indicates the presence of food (eg rotting fruit or animal blood) or neighbours in distress (it has been implicated as a stress pheromone).
The researchers previously showed that merely sensing one's normal food source is capable of reversing the health and longevity benefits that are associated with a low calorie diet.
They now establish that CO2 is responsible for this effect.
"We are working hard to understand how sensory perception affects health, and our new result really narrows the playing field. Somehow these 50 or so neurons, whose primary job it is to sense CO2, are capable of instigating changes that accelerate aging throughout the organism," said Scott Pletcher.
Sensory perception has been shown to impact aging in species that are separated by millions of years of evolution, suggesting that similar effects may be seen in humans.
"For us, it may not be the smell of yeast, for example, or the sensing of CO2 that affects how long we live, but it may be the perception of food or danger," said Pletcher.
If so, a clever program of controlled perceptual experience might form the basis of a simple yet powerful program of disease prevention and healthy aging.
The study has been published in the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Plan for composting plant may not pass the aroma test
Surrey is looking at a proposal to build a composting plant on land zoned for agricultural use, as municipalities strive to divert tonnes of organic waste from landfills.
But the plan, proposed by Private Grove Developments for 25 acres at 176th Street and 12th Avenue in south Surrey, has residents raising a stink about the potential odour problem.
Critics also say that if the plant goes ahead, Metro Vancouver will lose more valuable land for food production, but advocates insist composting should be considered an agricultural process rather than an industrial one because it creates organic soil for food production and is essential for sustainable waste management.
The plant would produce thousands of times more soil for food production than the land it displaces, says Richard Shatto of Point Nexus Consulting, a firm hired by Pilot Grove.
He said that up until now there have been no standards for compost plants so, "big smelly piles of manure and rotting organics is what most people think of."
The company argues industrial land, which is ten times the price of agricultural land, is too expensive for composts, which rely on tipping fees that typically run around $70 a tonne.
Cost for industrial land in Metro Vancouver is around $1 million per acre compared to $100,000 per acre for agricultural-zoned land, said Shatto.
As for the smell, the company said it will install high-tech biofilters that will eliminate the nauseous odour. Biofiltration is a pollution-control technique using trillions of microscopic bacteria to capture pollutants.
Ron Koukal, who lives nearby on 176th Street, said the plant would stink up the neighbourhood and thinks it should be developed on industrial land instead, away from residents' noses.
He doesn't believe the company when it says there will be virtually no smell.
"I don't trust them. If that's what they do they are turning that land into a dump. They can buy the land a lot cheaper. And I don't think that once they get the land they are going to spend the money to get rid of the smell."
Koukal said he and his neighbours are also concerned about the value of their houses going down.
"And what about tourism? There's a new tourism centre nearby. The sign says 'Welcome to Surrey the City of the Future,' but if there is odour ... tourists will think Surrey smells bad."
John Paul, owner of Transform Compost Systems, which designed the biofilters, said they will place filters in the receiving area, which will be enclosed in a building, and another one in the building where the composting process will take place.
He said residents should not be concerned about the smell because the process has already been tested in Agassiz. There are also biofilters at the UBC compost and at the one in Whistler.
Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt, who is in favour of the proposal, said he is not concerned about the odour either, arguing that it would smell far less than a chicken or hog farm, which are considered for use on the ALR.
"The smelly part is inside a building and the air will be sucked out and goes through a biofilter. So that's not an issue."
But the plan, proposed by Private Grove Developments for 25 acres at 176th Street and 12th Avenue in south Surrey, has residents raising a stink about the potential odour problem.
Critics also say that if the plant goes ahead, Metro Vancouver will lose more valuable land for food production, but advocates insist composting should be considered an agricultural process rather than an industrial one because it creates organic soil for food production and is essential for sustainable waste management.
The plant would produce thousands of times more soil for food production than the land it displaces, says Richard Shatto of Point Nexus Consulting, a firm hired by Pilot Grove.
He said that up until now there have been no standards for compost plants so, "big smelly piles of manure and rotting organics is what most people think of."
The company argues industrial land, which is ten times the price of agricultural land, is too expensive for composts, which rely on tipping fees that typically run around $70 a tonne.
Cost for industrial land in Metro Vancouver is around $1 million per acre compared to $100,000 per acre for agricultural-zoned land, said Shatto.
As for the smell, the company said it will install high-tech biofilters that will eliminate the nauseous odour. Biofiltration is a pollution-control technique using trillions of microscopic bacteria to capture pollutants.
Ron Koukal, who lives nearby on 176th Street, said the plant would stink up the neighbourhood and thinks it should be developed on industrial land instead, away from residents' noses.
He doesn't believe the company when it says there will be virtually no smell.
"I don't trust them. If that's what they do they are turning that land into a dump. They can buy the land a lot cheaper. And I don't think that once they get the land they are going to spend the money to get rid of the smell."
Koukal said he and his neighbours are also concerned about the value of their houses going down.
"And what about tourism? There's a new tourism centre nearby. The sign says 'Welcome to Surrey the City of the Future,' but if there is odour ... tourists will think Surrey smells bad."
John Paul, owner of Transform Compost Systems, which designed the biofilters, said they will place filters in the receiving area, which will be enclosed in a building, and another one in the building where the composting process will take place.
He said residents should not be concerned about the smell because the process has already been tested in Agassiz. There are also biofilters at the UBC compost and at the one in Whistler.
Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt, who is in favour of the proposal, said he is not concerned about the odour either, arguing that it would smell far less than a chicken or hog farm, which are considered for use on the ALR.
"The smelly part is inside a building and the air will be sucked out and goes through a biofilter. So that's not an issue."
Friday, April 09, 2010
Green Chemistry books to look out for this week
 |  |  |
| Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Huma... by Elizabeth Grossman $17.79 | Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Pr... by Mark Schapiro $11.53 | Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice by Paul T. Anastas $27.90 |
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Residents Demand Answers About Odor From Rumpke Dump
Residents Demand Answers About Odor From Rumpke Dump
COLERAIN TWP., Ohio -- Dozens of residents lashed out Thursday at officials about the state of the Rumpke landfill in Colerain Township.
"I feel we're being managed and dismissed," on resident said. While another tried to make sure their voices were heard saying, "How many hands do I have that we be allowed to speak and address to what you are doing. Nothing."
Residents said they were looking to have their questions about the smell coming from the dump answered, not a presentation.
"There's no flames, no smoke. It doesn't smell like something's burning," said Paul Ruesch of the EPA.
Neighbors have described the smell as a mixture of chemicals.
"It doesn't matter if it's a reaction or a fire," Ruesch said. "The dynamic is the same and we're going to deal with it and control it based on what it's giving off."
There have been rare temperature recordings 100 feet below the surface at 11-acres of the dump since August.
Neighbors of Mt. Rumpke said they're fed up with what they describe as that harsh odor, poor air quality, and possible long-term health effects.
"We don't know what's coming out," one neighbor said. "It smells really bad and it's hard to believe that something that smells that bad is ok to breathe."
"We understand the frustrations of the community the odors are a concern of ours as well," Jay Roberts, an engineer with Rumpke Engineer. "We do what we can to mitigate the odors and be invisible at the property line."
Rumpke has tossed an additional foot of clay soil in some areas plus an odor neutralizing agent.
COLERAIN TWP., Ohio -- Dozens of residents lashed out Thursday at officials about the state of the Rumpke landfill in Colerain Township.
"I feel we're being managed and dismissed," on resident said. While another tried to make sure their voices were heard saying, "How many hands do I have that we be allowed to speak and address to what you are doing. Nothing."
Residents said they were looking to have their questions about the smell coming from the dump answered, not a presentation.
"There's no flames, no smoke. It doesn't smell like something's burning," said Paul Ruesch of the EPA.
Neighbors have described the smell as a mixture of chemicals.
"It doesn't matter if it's a reaction or a fire," Ruesch said. "The dynamic is the same and we're going to deal with it and control it based on what it's giving off."
There have been rare temperature recordings 100 feet below the surface at 11-acres of the dump since August.
Neighbors of Mt. Rumpke said they're fed up with what they describe as that harsh odor, poor air quality, and possible long-term health effects.
"We don't know what's coming out," one neighbor said. "It smells really bad and it's hard to believe that something that smells that bad is ok to breathe."
"We understand the frustrations of the community the odors are a concern of ours as well," Jay Roberts, an engineer with Rumpke Engineer. "We do what we can to mitigate the odors and be invisible at the property line."
Rumpke has tossed an additional foot of clay soil in some areas plus an odor neutralizing agent.
Plant installs new odour controls
Amaizeingly Green LP is trying out some new equipment in its ongoing battle with odour and noise problems.
"We have successfully met the requirements for the install, commissioning and making operational of our new Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer to treat the Germ Dryer exhaust at AGP," general manager Martin Kazmir said in an email.
The oxidizer went into operation on March 26 and has "been working well," said Kazmir.
In an abatement plan presented in December, the company outlined treating the germ dryer exhaust stream with a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer. The MOE issued a control order requiring the RTO -Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer-- to be installed by March 26.
"This was a next-to-impossible date to meet but we did the best we could and did meet the date of installation. The RTO is the latest in effective technology for treating odour stream," said Kazmir, noting the oxidizer will "reduce any odour stream with 98 per cent efficiency."
The Ministry of the Environment said it had received two complaints about odour in the last five days and was unable to corroborate either one.
"We have successfully met the requirements for the install, commissioning and making operational of our new Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer to treat the Germ Dryer exhaust at AGP," general manager Martin Kazmir said in an email.
The oxidizer went into operation on March 26 and has "been working well," said Kazmir.
In an abatement plan presented in December, the company outlined treating the germ dryer exhaust stream with a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer. The MOE issued a control order requiring the RTO -Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer-- to be installed by March 26.
"This was a next-to-impossible date to meet but we did the best we could and did meet the date of installation. The RTO is the latest in effective technology for treating odour stream," said Kazmir, noting the oxidizer will "reduce any odour stream with 98 per cent efficiency."
The Ministry of the Environment said it had received two complaints about odour in the last five days and was unable to corroborate either one.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Beijing Deploys Giant Deodorant Cannons to Freshen Up City Landfill | Popular Science
Overloaded by trash, the city tries an unusual method to combat the smell.
Stinky landfills are a bit like stinky armpits — only a whole lot bigger. And what do we do when our armpits smell a bit rank? Put on some deodorant, of course. And it seems Beijing has come up with the same solution for their foul-smelling pits of garbage.
According to Treehugger.com, the city is installing 100 giant deodorant guns at its Asuwei dump site, following smell complaints from local residents.
The high-pressure fragrance cannons reportedly spray gallons of an odor-fighting agent per minute, with a range of up to 20 feet. City officials will also cover the trash with plastic to help minimize the stench.
Although their smell-control efforts might work in the short-term, it doesn't solve Beijing's bigger issue: it can't keep up with all the trash it produces. Local officials say the city of 17 million generates more than 18,000 tons of trash daily, 700 tons more than its current dumps are equipped to handle.
"All landfill and treatment sites in Beijing will be full in four years. That's how long it takes to build a treatment plant. So we need to act right now to resolve the issue," said Wang Weiping, a waste expert in the city government. "It's necessary to restructure the current disposal system. We cannot rely on landfill anymore. It's a waste of space."
One reason for the trash problem is it seems Chinese citizens are not very good recyclers. Less than 4 percent of its trash is recycled, versus 35 percent in the UK and US. (Go us!)
So it seems those deodorant guns are simply a stop-gap measure. But perhaps all that stinky trash will motivate China to recycle a lot more. In other words, perhaps Red China will become Green China before we know it.
Stinky landfills are a bit like stinky armpits — only a whole lot bigger. And what do we do when our armpits smell a bit rank? Put on some deodorant, of course. And it seems Beijing has come up with the same solution for their foul-smelling pits of garbage.
According to Treehugger.com, the city is installing 100 giant deodorant guns at its Asuwei dump site, following smell complaints from local residents.
The high-pressure fragrance cannons reportedly spray gallons of an odor-fighting agent per minute, with a range of up to 20 feet. City officials will also cover the trash with plastic to help minimize the stench.
Although their smell-control efforts might work in the short-term, it doesn't solve Beijing's bigger issue: it can't keep up with all the trash it produces. Local officials say the city of 17 million generates more than 18,000 tons of trash daily, 700 tons more than its current dumps are equipped to handle.
"All landfill and treatment sites in Beijing will be full in four years. That's how long it takes to build a treatment plant. So we need to act right now to resolve the issue," said Wang Weiping, a waste expert in the city government. "It's necessary to restructure the current disposal system. We cannot rely on landfill anymore. It's a waste of space."
One reason for the trash problem is it seems Chinese citizens are not very good recyclers. Less than 4 percent of its trash is recycled, versus 35 percent in the UK and US. (Go us!)
So it seems those deodorant guns are simply a stop-gap measure. But perhaps all that stinky trash will motivate China to recycle a lot more. In other words, perhaps Red China will become Green China before we know it.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Volunteers amble through olfactory jungle of NYC
NEW YORK — From rotting garbage to sweet-roasting peanuts at sidewalk stands, New Yorkers are constantly bombarded with the aromas of urban life.
"You're walking into the olfactory jungle," said perfume designer Celine Barel of International Flavors and Fragrances on Friday at a daylong conference devoted to smells and the city.
That dazzling variety of smells has given a group of researchers at Rockefeller University the perfect bouquet from which to sniff out the mystery of how people process olfactory sensations.
"We don't know what the rules are for going from a smell to a sensation of smell," said Leslie Vosshall, one of the scientists, who presented some of her group's findings at the conference at the New School.
In a five-year study aimed at creating a "smell demography" of New York City, she said they subjected hundreds of volunteers found through Craigslist to intensive smell testing and found that the most pleasant scent, across groups, is vanilla.
The worst: Isovaleric acid, most commonly associated with eau de sweaty sock.
Among the more interesting findings so far was that men secrete a particular smell that about 15 percent of New Yorkers are less likely to respond to, she said. The best smellers were young females who don't smoke.
There were also a lot of volunteers who had a distorted view of their own nose.
"We found a whole lot of people who are incredibly into volunteering for smell studies and are completely blind to odors," she said, adding that unlike people who suffer from blindness, they are "completely unaware" of their inability to detect scents.
Odor has become a stinky point in New York City over the years, from complaints about the stench from factories in the Bronx to mystery odors tracked to New Jersey.
In 2009, a maple syrup smell that drifted through parts of the city more than half a dozen times was traced by a team of odor investigators to a Garden State facility that processes fenugreek seeds for flavorings. In a separate case, a team of investigators from New York and New Jersey was unable to determine the origin of a foul stench that drifted up the Hudson River in 2007.
Most of the more than 6,000 odor and fumes complaints received by the city in 2009 originated in Manhattan, said city Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Farrell Sklerov. The complaints encompassed idling vehicles, smells from restaurants, private garbage collection and dry cleaning.
Most New Yorkers have become accustomed to the daily smells of their metropolis, though they don't necessarily like them.
"It smells terrible," said Susan Wong, of the Bronx, walking out the door of a meat market on a Chinatown street, followed by a whiff of roasting animal. She said she particularly hates the way the garbage smells. "You just don't want to come here. You want to go as far as you can."
Eddie Hires, 50, said how it smells depended on the time of the year.
"Right now, it's all right," said Hires, standing on Canal Street in Chinatown, wearing a flimsy sign that read "We buy gold, jewelry & watches." "But then in the summer, they have garbage trucks, and it smells like dead bodies or something. It's awful."
A pair of tourists walking down a nearby street passed a fish market, where raw fillets rested on ice in plastic bins, and a tchotchke store, where sandalwood incense was burning slowly.
After stopping in front of a meat market where ducks and chickens hung from hooks, one of the tourists, Ellie Simpson, 17, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, said the city's smell was a great guide for tourists.
"You don't have to look," she said. "You just have to smell."
For Dr. Uddalak Majundar, who recently moved to New York City from Calcutta, India, the many odors make the city come alive for him.
"You can have an entire group of people communicate their culture through their smells," he said.
"You're walking into the olfactory jungle," said perfume designer Celine Barel of International Flavors and Fragrances on Friday at a daylong conference devoted to smells and the city.
That dazzling variety of smells has given a group of researchers at Rockefeller University the perfect bouquet from which to sniff out the mystery of how people process olfactory sensations.
"We don't know what the rules are for going from a smell to a sensation of smell," said Leslie Vosshall, one of the scientists, who presented some of her group's findings at the conference at the New School.
In a five-year study aimed at creating a "smell demography" of New York City, she said they subjected hundreds of volunteers found through Craigslist to intensive smell testing and found that the most pleasant scent, across groups, is vanilla.
The worst: Isovaleric acid, most commonly associated with eau de sweaty sock.
Among the more interesting findings so far was that men secrete a particular smell that about 15 percent of New Yorkers are less likely to respond to, she said. The best smellers were young females who don't smoke.
There were also a lot of volunteers who had a distorted view of their own nose.
"We found a whole lot of people who are incredibly into volunteering for smell studies and are completely blind to odors," she said, adding that unlike people who suffer from blindness, they are "completely unaware" of their inability to detect scents.
Odor has become a stinky point in New York City over the years, from complaints about the stench from factories in the Bronx to mystery odors tracked to New Jersey.
In 2009, a maple syrup smell that drifted through parts of the city more than half a dozen times was traced by a team of odor investigators to a Garden State facility that processes fenugreek seeds for flavorings. In a separate case, a team of investigators from New York and New Jersey was unable to determine the origin of a foul stench that drifted up the Hudson River in 2007.
Most of the more than 6,000 odor and fumes complaints received by the city in 2009 originated in Manhattan, said city Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Farrell Sklerov. The complaints encompassed idling vehicles, smells from restaurants, private garbage collection and dry cleaning.
Most New Yorkers have become accustomed to the daily smells of their metropolis, though they don't necessarily like them.
"It smells terrible," said Susan Wong, of the Bronx, walking out the door of a meat market on a Chinatown street, followed by a whiff of roasting animal. She said she particularly hates the way the garbage smells. "You just don't want to come here. You want to go as far as you can."
Eddie Hires, 50, said how it smells depended on the time of the year.
"Right now, it's all right," said Hires, standing on Canal Street in Chinatown, wearing a flimsy sign that read "We buy gold, jewelry & watches." "But then in the summer, they have garbage trucks, and it smells like dead bodies or something. It's awful."
A pair of tourists walking down a nearby street passed a fish market, where raw fillets rested on ice in plastic bins, and a tchotchke store, where sandalwood incense was burning slowly.
After stopping in front of a meat market where ducks and chickens hung from hooks, one of the tourists, Ellie Simpson, 17, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, said the city's smell was a great guide for tourists.
"You don't have to look," she said. "You just have to smell."
For Dr. Uddalak Majundar, who recently moved to New York City from Calcutta, India, the many odors make the city come alive for him.
"You can have an entire group of people communicate their culture through their smells," he said.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Big stink in Three Creeks a big mystery
While oilmen equate the smell of oil with the smell of money, it's raising a big stink in the Peace Country oilpatch.
Merna Dallyn says a hydrocarbon odour was so bad a month ago she had to gather up the grandchildren she was babysitting and evacuate her farm house in the Three Creeks area, about 40 kilometres east of Peace River. "It was nauseating and gave you a headache. It was really bad."
She was especially worried about the health of her grandchildren, aged 18 months and three years, whom she cares for every day.
Alberta Environment and the Energy Resources Conservation Board responded to a number of complaints and dispatched a mobile air monitoring unit to the area, but have yet to pinpoint the source of the smell.
"All the companies have agreed that there is an odour issue, acknowledge that it originates from industry activity and have agreed to jointly work together to solve the problem," the ERCB has advised area residents.
Residents initially suspected a Shell Peace River thermal plant that injects steam into the ground to liquefy the thick bitumen in the underground formations so it can be pumped to the surface. The plant, just 10 kilometres from the Dallyn farm, also produces asphalt that it keeps heated in large storage tanks. But Alberta Environment says it doesn't believe the smell is coming from the plant. Shell's plant spews up to 14 tonnes of sulphur into the air per day, but sulphur has been absent in the air samples collected so far.
In a March 5 notice sent to residents, the ERCB suggests the odours are likely the result of the venting of gases from individual well sites in the area. Under Alberta regulations, energy companies can release into the air "solution gas" that accompanies bitumen and crude if it is not economical to capture the gas.
Test results released to residents show the air contains carcinogens benzene, toluene and xylene, although the ERCB says the levels do not exceed acceptable limits.
Rancher Carmen Langer, who previously worked at the Shell plant and as an oilfield consultant, says he is skeptical of claims the air is safe.
"They're saying it is not at dangerous levels, but any time you have cancer-causing agents floating in the air, it's pretty dangerous."
Chris Severson-Baker of the Pembina Institute concurs there are no safe levels of exposure to benzene.
"Any level has the potential to be carcinogenic."
The industry practice of venting gases into the air has increased in the past three years after five years of steady decline -- and the big culprit is crude bitumen production. The ERCB's most recent report on flaring and venting shows there was nearly a 26-per-cent increase in venting from crude bitumen batteries from 2007 to 2008.
Severson-Baker estimates that the 292 million cubic metres of gas vented in 2008 would provide heat and hot water to 80,203 homes for a year -- more than a quarter of all the homes in Edmonton.
He says companies are required to assess the economics of an oil or bitumen well if it produces more than 900 cubic metres of gas per day, but the assessment doesn't include the economic value of the oil from the well -- just the value of the gas. That allows hundreds of profitable bitumen wells to vent gas.
"The reality is by far the majority of wells could absorb the cost of conserving the solution gas, but companies will not want to do that voluntarily," he says.
"If we're serious about eliminating or driving down flaring and venting in Alberta, we have to say that we consider this gas a waste product and it is not acceptable any more to flare or vent it to the atmosphere because of odour concerns, health concerns and climate change."
Shell, one of five area oilpatch companies working to resolve the Three Creeks issue, is moving toward capturing solution gas from its wells in its Cliffdale field this year, although it contends its wells, more than 20 kilometres away from the affected residents, are not likely the cause of the problem. Shell spokeswoman Adrienne Lamb says the company also hopes to dramatically reduce sulphur emissions from its thermal plant this summer. To their credit, the companies have set up an air monitoring trailer on Langer's farm.
ERCB spokesman Darin Barter says the oilpatch regulator has directed the oil companies to provide by Thursday documentation of all odours, incidents and upsets at their facilities, as well as the volumes of gas they have vented from their facilities. It has also demanded they produce action plans for the mitigation or elimination of venting.
"The ERCB takes these concerns very seriously," Barter said. "The ERCB will continue to direct resources toward inspections of all facilities in the area to ensure they meet strict regulatory requirements related to odours, venting and public safety."
Area resident Karen Dziengielewski says Albertans deserve regulations that ban venting.
"It's not for just my husband's and my health. It's for everybody's health. We have a right to breathe clean air."
Merna Dallyn says a hydrocarbon odour was so bad a month ago she had to gather up the grandchildren she was babysitting and evacuate her farm house in the Three Creeks area, about 40 kilometres east of Peace River. "It was nauseating and gave you a headache. It was really bad."
She was especially worried about the health of her grandchildren, aged 18 months and three years, whom she cares for every day.
Alberta Environment and the Energy Resources Conservation Board responded to a number of complaints and dispatched a mobile air monitoring unit to the area, but have yet to pinpoint the source of the smell.
"All the companies have agreed that there is an odour issue, acknowledge that it originates from industry activity and have agreed to jointly work together to solve the problem," the ERCB has advised area residents.
Residents initially suspected a Shell Peace River thermal plant that injects steam into the ground to liquefy the thick bitumen in the underground formations so it can be pumped to the surface. The plant, just 10 kilometres from the Dallyn farm, also produces asphalt that it keeps heated in large storage tanks. But Alberta Environment says it doesn't believe the smell is coming from the plant. Shell's plant spews up to 14 tonnes of sulphur into the air per day, but sulphur has been absent in the air samples collected so far.
In a March 5 notice sent to residents, the ERCB suggests the odours are likely the result of the venting of gases from individual well sites in the area. Under Alberta regulations, energy companies can release into the air "solution gas" that accompanies bitumen and crude if it is not economical to capture the gas.
Test results released to residents show the air contains carcinogens benzene, toluene and xylene, although the ERCB says the levels do not exceed acceptable limits.
Rancher Carmen Langer, who previously worked at the Shell plant and as an oilfield consultant, says he is skeptical of claims the air is safe.
"They're saying it is not at dangerous levels, but any time you have cancer-causing agents floating in the air, it's pretty dangerous."
Chris Severson-Baker of the Pembina Institute concurs there are no safe levels of exposure to benzene.
"Any level has the potential to be carcinogenic."
The industry practice of venting gases into the air has increased in the past three years after five years of steady decline -- and the big culprit is crude bitumen production. The ERCB's most recent report on flaring and venting shows there was nearly a 26-per-cent increase in venting from crude bitumen batteries from 2007 to 2008.
Severson-Baker estimates that the 292 million cubic metres of gas vented in 2008 would provide heat and hot water to 80,203 homes for a year -- more than a quarter of all the homes in Edmonton.
He says companies are required to assess the economics of an oil or bitumen well if it produces more than 900 cubic metres of gas per day, but the assessment doesn't include the economic value of the oil from the well -- just the value of the gas. That allows hundreds of profitable bitumen wells to vent gas.
"The reality is by far the majority of wells could absorb the cost of conserving the solution gas, but companies will not want to do that voluntarily," he says.
"If we're serious about eliminating or driving down flaring and venting in Alberta, we have to say that we consider this gas a waste product and it is not acceptable any more to flare or vent it to the atmosphere because of odour concerns, health concerns and climate change."
Shell, one of five area oilpatch companies working to resolve the Three Creeks issue, is moving toward capturing solution gas from its wells in its Cliffdale field this year, although it contends its wells, more than 20 kilometres away from the affected residents, are not likely the cause of the problem. Shell spokeswoman Adrienne Lamb says the company also hopes to dramatically reduce sulphur emissions from its thermal plant this summer. To their credit, the companies have set up an air monitoring trailer on Langer's farm.
ERCB spokesman Darin Barter says the oilpatch regulator has directed the oil companies to provide by Thursday documentation of all odours, incidents and upsets at their facilities, as well as the volumes of gas they have vented from their facilities. It has also demanded they produce action plans for the mitigation or elimination of venting.
"The ERCB takes these concerns very seriously," Barter said. "The ERCB will continue to direct resources toward inspections of all facilities in the area to ensure they meet strict regulatory requirements related to odours, venting and public safety."
Area resident Karen Dziengielewski says Albertans deserve regulations that ban venting.
"It's not for just my husband's and my health. It's for everybody's health. We have a right to breathe clean air."
Water authority fined $6K for sewage spill
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined Central Highlands Water almost $6,000 for allowing sewage to spill into Lake Daylesford last April.
The spill occurred on Easter Sunday, when alarm systems at a sewer pump station failed to warn of a sewage overflow for about two hours.
The EPA's Wayne Robbins says a large amount of sewage leaked into the lake during that time.
He says the health risks caused by this were significant.
"Well obviously a sewage spill isn't pleasant," he said.
"[There is] visual and odour impact and potentially health risks in terms of E. coli and fecal contamination."
The spill occurred on Easter Sunday, when alarm systems at a sewer pump station failed to warn of a sewage overflow for about two hours.
The EPA's Wayne Robbins says a large amount of sewage leaked into the lake during that time.
He says the health risks caused by this were significant.
"Well obviously a sewage spill isn't pleasant," he said.
"[There is] visual and odour impact and potentially health risks in terms of E. coli and fecal contamination."
Friday, March 12, 2010
How does a tree neutralise your blog’s carbon footprint?
A question always asked around the net can be answered visiting
http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/1-tree-1-blog-how-it-works/
How much carbon dioxide does your blog create?
According to a study by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, an average website causes about 0.02g (0,0008oz.) of carbon dioxide for each visit. Assuming an average blog gets 15,000 visits a month, it has yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 3,6kg (8lb.). This can mainly be tracked back to the immense energy usage from (mainframe) computers, servers, and their cooling systems.
Does your blog have more than 15,000 visitors a month? Just e-mail us at CO2-neutral@kaufda.de. We make sure we neutralise your blog too.
How much carbon dioxide does a tree absorb?
Unfortunately, no precise answer is possible. The carbon dioxide absorption of a tree can differ a lot. The amount of carbon dioxide that a tree can absorb depends on the type of tree, light exposure, length of the vegetation period, latitude, water balance, and the soil conditions.
There are many different calculations for the saving potential of a tree. The assumed values vary between 10 and 30kg (20 and 70lb.) for a tree each year. It is certain however, that in its first two to three years a tree absorbs relatively little carbon dioxide. In the growth phase following this, the absorption rate increases rapidly. During this time, the tree safes a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. The absorption rate decrease again from the age of 18.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assumes a yearly absorption of one tree of approximately 10kg (20lb.) carbon dioxide emissions.
One tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog
As demonstrated in the above calculation, the atmosphere can be relieved by an average of 5kg (11lb.) carbon dioxide every year by planting one tree. An average blog causes 3.6kg (8lb.) of carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, a tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of a blog. Since a tree lives for an average of 50 years, carbon dioxide emissions of your blog can be completely neutralised for this time period.
more information can be found here
http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/1-tree-1-blog-how-it-works/
http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/1-tree-1-blog-how-it-works/
How much carbon dioxide does your blog create?
According to a study by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, an average website causes about 0.02g (0,0008oz.) of carbon dioxide for each visit. Assuming an average blog gets 15,000 visits a month, it has yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 3,6kg (8lb.). This can mainly be tracked back to the immense energy usage from (mainframe) computers, servers, and their cooling systems.
Does your blog have more than 15,000 visitors a month? Just e-mail us at CO2-neutral@kaufda.de. We make sure we neutralise your blog too.
How much carbon dioxide does a tree absorb?
Unfortunately, no precise answer is possible. The carbon dioxide absorption of a tree can differ a lot. The amount of carbon dioxide that a tree can absorb depends on the type of tree, light exposure, length of the vegetation period, latitude, water balance, and the soil conditions.
There are many different calculations for the saving potential of a tree. The assumed values vary between 10 and 30kg (20 and 70lb.) for a tree each year. It is certain however, that in its first two to three years a tree absorbs relatively little carbon dioxide. In the growth phase following this, the absorption rate increases rapidly. During this time, the tree safes a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. The absorption rate decrease again from the age of 18.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assumes a yearly absorption of one tree of approximately 10kg (20lb.) carbon dioxide emissions.
One tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog
As demonstrated in the above calculation, the atmosphere can be relieved by an average of 5kg (11lb.) carbon dioxide every year by planting one tree. An average blog causes 3.6kg (8lb.) of carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, a tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of a blog. Since a tree lives for an average of 50 years, carbon dioxide emissions of your blog can be completely neutralised for this time period.
more information can be found here
http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/1-tree-1-blog-how-it-works/
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
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Bad odour prompts EnCana to extend smokestack height
Residents’ complaints about a bad smell emanating from a natural gas processing plant near Dawson Creek have prompted EnCana Corp. to undertake an upgrade of the plant’s waste gas system.
Photograph by: Canwest News Service, Canwest News Service
Residents’ complaints about a bad smell emanating from a natural gas processing plant near Dawson Creek have prompted EnCana Corp. to undertake an upgrade of the plant’s waste gas system.
Residents of the Tomslake community located 10 kilometres from the Steeprock processing plant have complained for more than a year about an unpleasant odour comparable to rotten eggs in the local airshed as a result of plant operations.
EnCana media relations adviser Carol Howes said the plant met all engineering and design criteria when it came into commission in 2006.
But the Calgary-based company has decided to seek bids on a contract to extend the height of the plant smokestack from which small amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) are released as a byproduct of gas processing. The upgraded smokestack will have an elevation of 70 metres, which EnCana hopes will be sufficient to prevent the odour from settling back onto the ground.
“We started the process last summer,” Howes said. “The issue was raised with some concerns from a couple of the folks and we decided to take a look at it. We put in some air monitors, and looked at the design of the smokestack and how we could improve it to alleviate that.
“Normally in the incineration process, this SO2 would disperse into the air, but the plume is not going quite high enough for it to disperse,” Howes said. “It’s a very, very small concentration and it’s within all the regulatory standards. It’s just low enough in that little area that you can smell it.”
Photograph by: Canwest News Service, Canwest News Service
Residents’ complaints about a bad smell emanating from a natural gas processing plant near Dawson Creek have prompted EnCana Corp. to undertake an upgrade of the plant’s waste gas system.
Residents of the Tomslake community located 10 kilometres from the Steeprock processing plant have complained for more than a year about an unpleasant odour comparable to rotten eggs in the local airshed as a result of plant operations.
EnCana media relations adviser Carol Howes said the plant met all engineering and design criteria when it came into commission in 2006.
But the Calgary-based company has decided to seek bids on a contract to extend the height of the plant smokestack from which small amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) are released as a byproduct of gas processing. The upgraded smokestack will have an elevation of 70 metres, which EnCana hopes will be sufficient to prevent the odour from settling back onto the ground.
“We started the process last summer,” Howes said. “The issue was raised with some concerns from a couple of the folks and we decided to take a look at it. We put in some air monitors, and looked at the design of the smokestack and how we could improve it to alleviate that.
“Normally in the incineration process, this SO2 would disperse into the air, but the plume is not going quite high enough for it to disperse,” Howes said. “It’s a very, very small concentration and it’s within all the regulatory standards. It’s just low enough in that little area that you can smell it.”
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Scents and sensibility
It's the too-good-to-be-true weight-loss system that's taking America by storm, and its manufacturers hope to launch it here in the next few months. Sensa lets you eat exactly what you want, when you want it and in the quantities you desire. And it still claims to help you shed around 5lb (2.3kg) every month.
It achieves the impossible, its makers say, by making sure the quantities you desire are not very great. Sensa comes as granules that are added to every meal and snack you eat. Put simply, the Sensa "sprinkles" are designed to enhance the sensory experience of eating, stimulating taste and smell to an extent that fools the brain into thinking you've eaten more than you have. Users have reported the novel experience of happily leaving food untouched on their plates.
Depending on which expert you talk to, taste is between 75 and 90pc about smell, and Sensa is not the only new product on the market in the States that claims to exploit the apparent connection between strong smells and smaller appetites.
SlimScents are pens filled with fruity or minty smells, sniffed before meals. Aroma Patch is vanilla scented and worn permanently, like a nicotine patch. All boast scientific validity.
A limited number of studies have been done. Dr Alan Hirsch, the scientist behind Sensa, conducted his own research in 2005 on what would later become Sensa granules. The study followed more than 1,400 subjects over a six-month period, and recorded an average weight loss of 30.5lb (13.8kg), and a five-point drop in Body Mass Index.
peppermint
Kimberly Tobman, a spokeswoman for Sensa, says those results have since been duplicated in a smaller study carried out by an independent laboratory.
And last year Dr Bryan Raudenbush, an associate professor of psychology at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, conducted a small study which found that subjects who regularly sniffed a peppermint aroma consumed, on average, 1,800 calories fewer over the course of a week than normal.
Raudenbush is not convinced by the miraculous claims of Sensa and others, and suggests we take them "with a grain of salt and cautiousness". But he does think something is going on.
"From what we have found in other studies, peppermint scent can distract you from painful stimulation," he says. In one of them, participants held their hands in cold water for prolonged periods.
"Participants who were administered peppermint scent held their hand in the water for a longer period of time and rated the pain as less severe."
He believes that something similar may be at work in the appetite experiments: strong smells are distracting participants from physical discomfort, whether that means pain or hunger.
Professor Tim Jacob, an expert in smell and taste at Cardiff University's School of Biosciences, is more sceptical of the connection between strong scents and weight loss, not least because we tend to get habituated to smells very quickly. But he thinks the idea that scents can distract us from pain or allow us to endure more of it is valid.
"The olfactory (sense of smell) system and pain share some brain networks and it's thought that the positive consequences of experiencing pleasant or familiar odours offsets pain to a measurable extent," he says.
In fact, there's increasing excitement in the scientific community about the power of our sense of smell, and what consequences this may have for psychological and physiological health. Though much of the research is in its infancy, various studies have shown that scents such as peppermint, vanilla and coffee may have therapeutic effects. In a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, for example, researchers at the University of Tokyo found that inhaling linalool, a natural chemical found in flowers and spices, significantly reduced stress levels in rats. And a study at Tubingen University in Germany showed that vanilla fragrance reduced the startle reflex, making us calmer.
Scientists involved in this research are keen to distance themselves from what many see as the quack principles of aromatherapy -- the complementary therapy that recommends administering pleasant smells for anything from cancer to the common cold -- which Professor Jacob calls "nonsense".
CONNECTION
But Jacob and others in the field of olfactory research believe the connection between smell and memory -- and the associative power of odour -- represents a promising avenue of investigation.
"Using conditioned association we could use smell therapeutically, to treat sleep problems, anxiety, blood pressure, etc; and even clinically, possibly for immune-system pathologies, intractable medical conditions, for example lower back pain, and use it for drug rehabilitation," says Jacob. "Smell, once conditioned, can re-evoke a psychophysiological state. It relies upon the association of smell and memory."
That might sound ambitious, but it's exactly what Jacob and colleagues are researching in his Cardiff lab. To put it simply, if you associate a certain odour with a particular state of mind -- being relaxed, for example, or positive -- you may be able to recreate that state of mind, at least to some extent, by simply introducing the associated smell. In fact, many of the powers ascribed to the scent of vanilla could be down to the link between memory and smell. Vanilla is a universally positive childhood aroma -- holiday ice creams, perhaps, or the smell of baking on cosy Sunday afternoons. Recreating positive childhood emotions may explain vanilla's oft-vaunted powers of stress relief.
And, as Professor Jacob suggests, it may be possible to programme smell associations for particular therapeutic tasks. In the most famous study of this kind, healthy male volunteers were injected with insulin every day for four days and their blood sugar fell. At the same time, they were exposed to a smell. On the fifth day they were just given the smell, and their blood sugar still fell.
Such findings hold out the promise of some mind-boggling medical advances, from diabetics with inhalers instead of injections, to insomniacs cured by a smell they associate with sleepiness. As Jacob says, "watch this space".
-
It achieves the impossible, its makers say, by making sure the quantities you desire are not very great. Sensa comes as granules that are added to every meal and snack you eat. Put simply, the Sensa "sprinkles" are designed to enhance the sensory experience of eating, stimulating taste and smell to an extent that fools the brain into thinking you've eaten more than you have. Users have reported the novel experience of happily leaving food untouched on their plates.
Depending on which expert you talk to, taste is between 75 and 90pc about smell, and Sensa is not the only new product on the market in the States that claims to exploit the apparent connection between strong smells and smaller appetites.
SlimScents are pens filled with fruity or minty smells, sniffed before meals. Aroma Patch is vanilla scented and worn permanently, like a nicotine patch. All boast scientific validity.
A limited number of studies have been done. Dr Alan Hirsch, the scientist behind Sensa, conducted his own research in 2005 on what would later become Sensa granules. The study followed more than 1,400 subjects over a six-month period, and recorded an average weight loss of 30.5lb (13.8kg), and a five-point drop in Body Mass Index.
peppermint
Kimberly Tobman, a spokeswoman for Sensa, says those results have since been duplicated in a smaller study carried out by an independent laboratory.
And last year Dr Bryan Raudenbush, an associate professor of psychology at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, conducted a small study which found that subjects who regularly sniffed a peppermint aroma consumed, on average, 1,800 calories fewer over the course of a week than normal.
Raudenbush is not convinced by the miraculous claims of Sensa and others, and suggests we take them "with a grain of salt and cautiousness". But he does think something is going on.
"From what we have found in other studies, peppermint scent can distract you from painful stimulation," he says. In one of them, participants held their hands in cold water for prolonged periods.
"Participants who were administered peppermint scent held their hand in the water for a longer period of time and rated the pain as less severe."
He believes that something similar may be at work in the appetite experiments: strong smells are distracting participants from physical discomfort, whether that means pain or hunger.
Professor Tim Jacob, an expert in smell and taste at Cardiff University's School of Biosciences, is more sceptical of the connection between strong scents and weight loss, not least because we tend to get habituated to smells very quickly. But he thinks the idea that scents can distract us from pain or allow us to endure more of it is valid.
"The olfactory (sense of smell) system and pain share some brain networks and it's thought that the positive consequences of experiencing pleasant or familiar odours offsets pain to a measurable extent," he says.
In fact, there's increasing excitement in the scientific community about the power of our sense of smell, and what consequences this may have for psychological and physiological health. Though much of the research is in its infancy, various studies have shown that scents such as peppermint, vanilla and coffee may have therapeutic effects. In a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, for example, researchers at the University of Tokyo found that inhaling linalool, a natural chemical found in flowers and spices, significantly reduced stress levels in rats. And a study at Tubingen University in Germany showed that vanilla fragrance reduced the startle reflex, making us calmer.
Scientists involved in this research are keen to distance themselves from what many see as the quack principles of aromatherapy -- the complementary therapy that recommends administering pleasant smells for anything from cancer to the common cold -- which Professor Jacob calls "nonsense".
CONNECTION
But Jacob and others in the field of olfactory research believe the connection between smell and memory -- and the associative power of odour -- represents a promising avenue of investigation.
"Using conditioned association we could use smell therapeutically, to treat sleep problems, anxiety, blood pressure, etc; and even clinically, possibly for immune-system pathologies, intractable medical conditions, for example lower back pain, and use it for drug rehabilitation," says Jacob. "Smell, once conditioned, can re-evoke a psychophysiological state. It relies upon the association of smell and memory."
That might sound ambitious, but it's exactly what Jacob and colleagues are researching in his Cardiff lab. To put it simply, if you associate a certain odour with a particular state of mind -- being relaxed, for example, or positive -- you may be able to recreate that state of mind, at least to some extent, by simply introducing the associated smell. In fact, many of the powers ascribed to the scent of vanilla could be down to the link between memory and smell. Vanilla is a universally positive childhood aroma -- holiday ice creams, perhaps, or the smell of baking on cosy Sunday afternoons. Recreating positive childhood emotions may explain vanilla's oft-vaunted powers of stress relief.
And, as Professor Jacob suggests, it may be possible to programme smell associations for particular therapeutic tasks. In the most famous study of this kind, healthy male volunteers were injected with insulin every day for four days and their blood sugar fell. At the same time, they were exposed to a smell. On the fifth day they were just given the smell, and their blood sugar still fell.
Such findings hold out the promise of some mind-boggling medical advances, from diabetics with inhalers instead of injections, to insomniacs cured by a smell they associate with sleepiness. As Jacob says, "watch this space".
-
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Landfill odour
A judgment will be given next week on an EPA application for an injunction preventing A1 Waste from disposing waste at a landfill in Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare.
A1 Waste is the largest firm in Dublin dealing in construction and demolition waste. It also collects commercial and some household waste.
In 2003, the EPA granted Neiphin Trading, a company associated with A1 Waste, a waste licence to operate a landfill in Kerdiffstown.
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SC for the EPA, Nuala Butler, said the Agency is concerned that the Neiphin facility is causing serious environmental pollution because of strong odours from landfill gas and odours from composting activities.
She said the agency had received 312 complaints since last August from residents and from the GPA Golf Club, which is located next door to the facility.
In one affidavit, a resident, Robert Dunleavy, who lives 2km from the landfill said smells from the facility had become unbearable and that he and his wife were in the process of moving house to temporary rented accommodation.
Mr Dunleavy said the smells had forced him to vomit on a number of occasions.
A1 Waste claims that granting the injunction would 'effectively shut down the business', make 106 employees redundant and have significant knock on effects for 50 indirect jobs.
SC for Neiphin Trading, Shane Murphy, said the EPA was trying to stop the heart of the A1 Waste operation and that the company has a template of measures that they are willing to implement to address the odour problems.
Ms Butler asked why they have not taken any action since last July when EPA inspectors raised issues with the facility. She added that the measures being put forward were not approved by the EPA.
The High Court heard that the EPA is taking separate court action against Neiphin Trading and others for the illegal disposal of 1.1m tonnes of waste in another unengineered section of the Neiphin facility. A1 Waste claims the deposited material is being stored there pending recycling/recovery.
Mr Justice Ryan will give his judgement on the EPA application next Monday at 10.30am.
A1 Waste is the largest firm in Dublin dealing in construction and demolition waste. It also collects commercial and some household waste.
In 2003, the EPA granted Neiphin Trading, a company associated with A1 Waste, a waste licence to operate a landfill in Kerdiffstown.
Advertisement
SC for the EPA, Nuala Butler, said the Agency is concerned that the Neiphin facility is causing serious environmental pollution because of strong odours from landfill gas and odours from composting activities.
She said the agency had received 312 complaints since last August from residents and from the GPA Golf Club, which is located next door to the facility.
In one affidavit, a resident, Robert Dunleavy, who lives 2km from the landfill said smells from the facility had become unbearable and that he and his wife were in the process of moving house to temporary rented accommodation.
Mr Dunleavy said the smells had forced him to vomit on a number of occasions.
A1 Waste claims that granting the injunction would 'effectively shut down the business', make 106 employees redundant and have significant knock on effects for 50 indirect jobs.
SC for Neiphin Trading, Shane Murphy, said the EPA was trying to stop the heart of the A1 Waste operation and that the company has a template of measures that they are willing to implement to address the odour problems.
Ms Butler asked why they have not taken any action since last July when EPA inspectors raised issues with the facility. She added that the measures being put forward were not approved by the EPA.
The High Court heard that the EPA is taking separate court action against Neiphin Trading and others for the illegal disposal of 1.1m tonnes of waste in another unengineered section of the Neiphin facility. A1 Waste claims the deposited material is being stored there pending recycling/recovery.
Mr Justice Ryan will give his judgement on the EPA application next Monday at 10.30am.
It's the too-good-to-be-true weight loss 'system' that's taking America by storm, and its manufacturers hope to launch it here in the next few months. Sensa lets you eat exactly what you want, when you want it, and in the quantities you desire. And it still claims to help you shed around 5lb every month. It achieves the impossible – its makers say – by making sure the quantities you desire are not very great. Sensa comes as granules that are added to every meal and snack you eat. Put simply, the Sensa "sprinkles" are designed to enhance the sensory experience of eating, stimulating taste and smell to an extent that fools the brain into thinking you've eaten more than you have. Users have reported the novel experience of happily leaving food untouched on their plates. Depending on which expert you talk to, taste is between 75 and 90 per cent about smell, and Sensa is not the only new product on the market in the States that claims to exploit the apparent connection between strong smells and smaller appetites. SlimScents are pens filled with fruity or minty smells, sniffed before meals. Aroma Patch is vanilla scented and worn permanently, like a nicotine patch. All boast scientific validity. A limited number of studies have been done. Dr Alan Hirsch, the scientist behind Sensa, conducted his own research in 2005 on what would later become Sensa granules. The study followed over 1,400 subjects over a six-month period, and recorded an average weight loss of 30.5lb, and a five-point drop in Body Mass Index. Kimberly Tobman, a spokeswoman for Sensa, says those results have since been duplicated in a smaller study carried out by an independent laboratory. And last year Dr Bryan Raudenbush, an associate professor of psychology at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, conducted a small study which found that subjects who regularly sniffed a peppermint aroma consumed, on average, 1,800 calories fewer over the course of a week than normal. Raudenbush is not convinced by the miraculous claims of Sensa and others, and suggests we take them "with a grain of salt and cautiousness". But he does think something is going on. "From what we have found in other studies, peppermint scent can distract you from painful stimulation," he says. In one of them, participants held their hands in cold water for prolonged periods. "Participants who were administered peppermint scent held their hand in the water for a longer period of time and rated the pain as less severe." He believes that something similar may be at work in the appetite experiments: strong smells are distracting participants from physical discomfort, whether that means pain or hunger. Professor Tim Jacob, an expert in smell and taste at Cardiff University's School of Biosciences, is more sceptical of the connection between strong scents and weight loss, not least because we tend to get habituated to smells very quickly. But he thinks the idea that scents can distract us from pain or allow us to endure more of it is valid. "The olfactory (sense of smell) system and pain share some brain networks and it's thought that the positive consequences of experiencing pleasant or familiar odours offsets pain to a measurable extent," he says. In fact, there's increasing excitement in the scientific community about the power of our sense of smell, and what consequences this may have for psychological and physiological health. Though much of the research is in its infancy, various studies have shown that scents like peppermint, vanilla and coffee may have therapeutic effects. In a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, for example, researchers at the University of Tokyo found that inhaling Linalool, a natural chemical found in flowers and spices, significantly reduced stress levels in rats. And a study at Tubingen University in Germany showed that vanilla fragrance reduced the startle reflex, making us calmer. Scientists involved in this research are keen to distance themselves from what many see as the quack principles of aromatherapy – the complimentary therapy that recommends administering pleasant smells for anything from cancer to the common cold – which Professor Jacob calls "nonsense". But Jacob and others in the field of olfactory research believe the connection between smell and memory – and the associative power of odour – represents a hugely promising avenue of investigation. "Using conditioned association we could use smell therapeutically, to treat sleep problems, anxiety, blood pressure, etc; and even clinically, possibly for immune system pathologies, intractable medical conditions, for example lower back pain; and use it for drug rehabilitation," says Jacob. "Smell, once conditioned, can re-evoke a psychophysiological state. It relies upon the association of smell and memory." That might sound ambitious, but it's exactly what Jacob and colleagues are researching in his Cardiff lab at the moment. To put it simply, if you associate a certain odour with a particular state of mind – being relaxed, for example, or positive – you may be able to recreate that state of mind, at least to some extent, by simply introducing the associated smell. In fact, many of the powers ascribed to the scent of vanilla could be down to the link between memory and smell. Vanilla is a universally positive childhood aroma – holiday ice creams, perhaps, or the smell of baking on cosy Sunday afternoons. Recreating positive childhood emotions may explain vanilla's oft-vaunted powers of relaxation or stress relief. And, as Professor Jacob suggests, it may be possible to programme smell associations for particular therapeutic tasks. In the most famous study of this kind, healthy male volunteers were injected with insulin every day for four days and their blood sugar fell. At the same time, they were exposed to a smell. On the fifth day they were just given the smell, and their blood sugar still fell. Such findings hold out the promise of some pretty mind- boggling medical advances, from diabetics with inhalers instead of injections, to insomniacs cured by a smell they associate with sleepiness. We're not quite there yet, but as Jacob says, "watch this space".
A judgment will be given next week on an EPA application for an injunction preventing A1 Waste from disposing waste at a landfill in Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare.
A1 Waste is the largest firm in Dublin dealing in construction and demolition waste. It also collects commercial and some household waste.
In 2003, the EPA granted Neiphin Trading, a company associated with A1 Waste, a waste licence to operate a landfill in Kerdiffstown.
SC for the EPA, Nuala Butler, said the Agency is concerned that the Neiphin facility is causing serious environmental pollution because of strong odours from landfill gas and odours from composting activities.
She said the agency had received 312 complaints since last August from residents and from the GPA Golf Club, which is located next door to the facility.
In one affidavit, a resident, Robert Dunleavy, who lives 2km from the landfill said smells from the facility had become unbearable and that he and his wife were in the process of moving house to temporary rented accommodation.
Mr Dunleavy said the smells had forced him to vomit on a number of occasions.
A1 Waste claims that granting the injunction would 'effectively shut down the business', make 106 employees redundant and have significant knock on effects for 50 indirect jobs.
SC for Neiphin Trading, Shane Murphy, said the EPA was trying to stop the heart of the A1 Waste operation and that the company has a template of measures that they are willing to implement to address the odour problems.
Ms Butler asked why they have not taken any action since last July when EPA inspectors raised issues with the facility. She added that the measures being put forward were not approved by the EPA.
The High Court heard that the EPA is taking separate court action against Neiphin Trading and others for the illegal disposal of 1.1m tonnes of waste in another unengineered section of the Neiphin facility. A1 Waste claims the deposited material is being stored there pending recycling/recovery.
Mr Justice Ryan will give his judgement on the EPA application next Monday at 10.30am.
A1 Waste is the largest firm in Dublin dealing in construction and demolition waste. It also collects commercial and some household waste.
In 2003, the EPA granted Neiphin Trading, a company associated with A1 Waste, a waste licence to operate a landfill in Kerdiffstown.
SC for the EPA, Nuala Butler, said the Agency is concerned that the Neiphin facility is causing serious environmental pollution because of strong odours from landfill gas and odours from composting activities.
She said the agency had received 312 complaints since last August from residents and from the GPA Golf Club, which is located next door to the facility.
In one affidavit, a resident, Robert Dunleavy, who lives 2km from the landfill said smells from the facility had become unbearable and that he and his wife were in the process of moving house to temporary rented accommodation.
Mr Dunleavy said the smells had forced him to vomit on a number of occasions.
A1 Waste claims that granting the injunction would 'effectively shut down the business', make 106 employees redundant and have significant knock on effects for 50 indirect jobs.
SC for Neiphin Trading, Shane Murphy, said the EPA was trying to stop the heart of the A1 Waste operation and that the company has a template of measures that they are willing to implement to address the odour problems.
Ms Butler asked why they have not taken any action since last July when EPA inspectors raised issues with the facility. She added that the measures being put forward were not approved by the EPA.
The High Court heard that the EPA is taking separate court action against Neiphin Trading and others for the illegal disposal of 1.1m tonnes of waste in another unengineered section of the Neiphin facility. A1 Waste claims the deposited material is being stored there pending recycling/recovery.
Mr Justice Ryan will give his judgement on the EPA application next Monday at 10.30am.
If smell improves our mood, could it also be an effective treatment for everything from obesity to sleeping problems? The answer is right under our noses, says Hugh Wilson
It's the too-good-to-be-true weight loss 'system' that's taking America by storm, and its manufacturers hope to launch it here in the next few months. Sensa lets you eat exactly what you want, when you want it, and in the quantities you desire. And it still claims to help you shed around 5lb every month.
It achieves the impossible – its makers say – by making sure the quantities you desire are not very great. Sensa comes as granules that are added to every meal and snack you eat. Put simply, the Sensa "sprinkles" are designed to enhance the sensory experience of eating, stimulating taste and smell to an extent that fools the brain into thinking you've eaten more than you have. Users have reported the novel experience of happily leaving food untouched on their plates.
Depending on which expert you talk to, taste is between 75 and 90 per cent about smell, and Sensa is not the only new product on the market in the States that claims to exploit the apparent connection between strong smells and smaller appetites. SlimScents are pens filled with fruity or minty smells, sniffed before meals. Aroma Patch is vanilla scented and worn permanently, like a nicotine patch. All boast scientific validity.
A limited number of studies have been done. Dr Alan Hirsch, the scientist behind Sensa, conducted his own research in 2005 on what would later become Sensa granules. The study followed over 1,400 subjects over a six-month period, and recorded an average weight loss of 30.5lb, and a five-point drop in Body Mass Index.
Kimberly Tobman, a spokeswoman for Sensa, says those results have since been duplicated in a smaller study carried out by an independent laboratory.
And last year Dr Bryan Raudenbush, an associate professor of psychology at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, conducted a small study which found that subjects who regularly sniffed a peppermint aroma consumed, on average, 1,800 calories fewer over the course of a week than normal.
Raudenbush is not convinced by the miraculous claims of Sensa and others, and suggests we take them "with a grain of salt and cautiousness". But he does think something is going on.
"From what we have found in other studies, peppermint scent can distract you from painful stimulation," he says. In one of them, participants held their hands in cold water for prolonged periods. "Participants who were administered peppermint scent held their hand in the water for a longer period of time and rated the pain as less severe."
He believes that something similar may be at work in the appetite experiments: strong smells are distracting participants from physical discomfort, whether that means pain or hunger.
Professor Tim Jacob, an expert in smell and taste at Cardiff University's School of Biosciences, is more sceptical of the connection between strong scents and weight loss, not least because we tend to get habituated to smells very quickly. But he thinks the idea that scents can distract us from pain or allow us to endure more of it is valid.
"The olfactory (sense of smell) system and pain share some brain networks and it's thought that the positive consequences of experiencing pleasant or familiar odours offsets pain to a measurable extent," he says.
In fact, there's increasing excitement in the scientific community about the power of our sense of smell, and what consequences this may have for psychological and physiological health. Though much of the research is in its infancy, various studies have shown that scents like peppermint, vanilla and coffee may have therapeutic effects.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, for example, researchers at the University of Tokyo found that inhaling Linalool, a natural chemical found in flowers and spices, significantly reduced stress levels in rats. And a study at Tubingen University in Germany showed that vanilla fragrance reduced the startle reflex, making us calmer.
Scientists involved in this research are keen to distance themselves from what many see as the quack principles of aromatherapy – the complimentary therapy that recommends administering pleasant smells for anything from cancer to the common cold – which Professor Jacob calls "nonsense".
But Jacob and others in the field of olfactory research believe the connection between smell and memory – and the associative power of odour – represents a hugely promising avenue of investigation.
"Using conditioned association we could use smell therapeutically, to treat sleep problems, anxiety, blood pressure, etc; and even clinically, possibly for immune system pathologies, intractable medical conditions, for example lower back pain; and use it for drug rehabilitation," says Jacob. "Smell, once conditioned, can re-evoke a psychophysiological state. It relies upon the association of smell and memory."
That might sound ambitious, but it's exactly what Jacob and colleagues are researching in his Cardiff lab at the moment. To put it simply, if you associate a certain odour with a particular state of mind – being relaxed, for example, or positive – you may be able to recreate that state of mind, at least to some extent, by simply introducing the associated smell. In fact, many of the powers ascribed to the scent of vanilla could be down to the link between memory and smell. Vanilla is a universally positive childhood aroma – holiday ice creams, perhaps, or the smell of baking on cosy Sunday afternoons. Recreating positive childhood emotions may explain vanilla's oft-vaunted powers of relaxation or stress relief.
And, as Professor Jacob suggests, it may be possible to programme smell associations for particular therapeutic tasks. In the most famous study of this kind, healthy male volunteers were injected with insulin every day for four days and their blood sugar fell. At the same time, they were exposed to a smell. On the fifth day they were just given the smell, and their blood sugar still fell.
Such findings hold out the promise of some pretty mind- boggling medical advances, from diabetics with inhalers instead of injections, to insomniacs cured by a smell they associate with sleepiness. We're not quite there yet, but as Jacob says, "watch this space".
It achieves the impossible – its makers say – by making sure the quantities you desire are not very great. Sensa comes as granules that are added to every meal and snack you eat. Put simply, the Sensa "sprinkles" are designed to enhance the sensory experience of eating, stimulating taste and smell to an extent that fools the brain into thinking you've eaten more than you have. Users have reported the novel experience of happily leaving food untouched on their plates.
Depending on which expert you talk to, taste is between 75 and 90 per cent about smell, and Sensa is not the only new product on the market in the States that claims to exploit the apparent connection between strong smells and smaller appetites. SlimScents are pens filled with fruity or minty smells, sniffed before meals. Aroma Patch is vanilla scented and worn permanently, like a nicotine patch. All boast scientific validity.
A limited number of studies have been done. Dr Alan Hirsch, the scientist behind Sensa, conducted his own research in 2005 on what would later become Sensa granules. The study followed over 1,400 subjects over a six-month period, and recorded an average weight loss of 30.5lb, and a five-point drop in Body Mass Index.
Kimberly Tobman, a spokeswoman for Sensa, says those results have since been duplicated in a smaller study carried out by an independent laboratory.
And last year Dr Bryan Raudenbush, an associate professor of psychology at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia, conducted a small study which found that subjects who regularly sniffed a peppermint aroma consumed, on average, 1,800 calories fewer over the course of a week than normal.
Raudenbush is not convinced by the miraculous claims of Sensa and others, and suggests we take them "with a grain of salt and cautiousness". But he does think something is going on.
"From what we have found in other studies, peppermint scent can distract you from painful stimulation," he says. In one of them, participants held their hands in cold water for prolonged periods. "Participants who were administered peppermint scent held their hand in the water for a longer period of time and rated the pain as less severe."
He believes that something similar may be at work in the appetite experiments: strong smells are distracting participants from physical discomfort, whether that means pain or hunger.
Professor Tim Jacob, an expert in smell and taste at Cardiff University's School of Biosciences, is more sceptical of the connection between strong scents and weight loss, not least because we tend to get habituated to smells very quickly. But he thinks the idea that scents can distract us from pain or allow us to endure more of it is valid.
"The olfactory (sense of smell) system and pain share some brain networks and it's thought that the positive consequences of experiencing pleasant or familiar odours offsets pain to a measurable extent," he says.
In fact, there's increasing excitement in the scientific community about the power of our sense of smell, and what consequences this may have for psychological and physiological health. Though much of the research is in its infancy, various studies have shown that scents like peppermint, vanilla and coffee may have therapeutic effects.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, for example, researchers at the University of Tokyo found that inhaling Linalool, a natural chemical found in flowers and spices, significantly reduced stress levels in rats. And a study at Tubingen University in Germany showed that vanilla fragrance reduced the startle reflex, making us calmer.
Scientists involved in this research are keen to distance themselves from what many see as the quack principles of aromatherapy – the complimentary therapy that recommends administering pleasant smells for anything from cancer to the common cold – which Professor Jacob calls "nonsense".
But Jacob and others in the field of olfactory research believe the connection between smell and memory – and the associative power of odour – represents a hugely promising avenue of investigation.
"Using conditioned association we could use smell therapeutically, to treat sleep problems, anxiety, blood pressure, etc; and even clinically, possibly for immune system pathologies, intractable medical conditions, for example lower back pain; and use it for drug rehabilitation," says Jacob. "Smell, once conditioned, can re-evoke a psychophysiological state. It relies upon the association of smell and memory."
That might sound ambitious, but it's exactly what Jacob and colleagues are researching in his Cardiff lab at the moment. To put it simply, if you associate a certain odour with a particular state of mind – being relaxed, for example, or positive – you may be able to recreate that state of mind, at least to some extent, by simply introducing the associated smell. In fact, many of the powers ascribed to the scent of vanilla could be down to the link between memory and smell. Vanilla is a universally positive childhood aroma – holiday ice creams, perhaps, or the smell of baking on cosy Sunday afternoons. Recreating positive childhood emotions may explain vanilla's oft-vaunted powers of relaxation or stress relief.
And, as Professor Jacob suggests, it may be possible to programme smell associations for particular therapeutic tasks. In the most famous study of this kind, healthy male volunteers were injected with insulin every day for four days and their blood sugar fell. At the same time, they were exposed to a smell. On the fifth day they were just given the smell, and their blood sugar still fell.
Such findings hold out the promise of some pretty mind- boggling medical advances, from diabetics with inhalers instead of injections, to insomniacs cured by a smell they associate with sleepiness. We're not quite there yet, but as Jacob says, "watch this space".
Time to sniff out sewage works stench
Members of Northampton Borough Council investigated the problem of smells from the Lower Ecton Lane sewage works last year and believed the problem had been resolved.
But during a meeting at the Guildhall, they were told the issue had reared its head again.
The member for the area, Councillor Christopher Malpas (Con, Billing), said: "People are getting an horrendous smell that only lasts for between two and 10 minutes, so by the time people come out to check it, it's not there.
"They're getting that a lot more than the prolonged smells they had before."
The council committee was told that during 2009, there had been a total of 14 complaints about smells from the sewage works.
Councillor Dennis Meredith (Lib Dem, Thorplands), who visited the sewage works a number of times last year to monitor the smell as part of a council investigation, said: "I'm not happy about this, 14 complaints is still too high and it's very worrying to me.
"It's not acceptable. Last year, we gave residents an assurance the smell would be virtually eradicated, so I can't believe there are still this many complaints. I think we should re-open this and go and investigate the site again. We need to find out if these smells are still coming out, we've got a duty to the residents."
He was backed by Councillor Phil Larratt (Con, East Hunsbury) who said: "I think we may have let people down. They were told there would be an improvement and it appears not to have been delivered."
But during a meeting at the Guildhall, they were told the issue had reared its head again.
The member for the area, Councillor Christopher Malpas (Con, Billing), said: "People are getting an horrendous smell that only lasts for between two and 10 minutes, so by the time people come out to check it, it's not there.
"They're getting that a lot more than the prolonged smells they had before."
The council committee was told that during 2009, there had been a total of 14 complaints about smells from the sewage works.
Councillor Dennis Meredith (Lib Dem, Thorplands), who visited the sewage works a number of times last year to monitor the smell as part of a council investigation, said: "I'm not happy about this, 14 complaints is still too high and it's very worrying to me.
"It's not acceptable. Last year, we gave residents an assurance the smell would be virtually eradicated, so I can't believe there are still this many complaints. I think we should re-open this and go and investigate the site again. We need to find out if these smells are still coming out, we've got a duty to the residents."
He was backed by Councillor Phil Larratt (Con, East Hunsbury) who said: "I think we may have let people down. They were told there would be an improvement and it appears not to have been delivered."
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