Understanding Offensive ODOUR
Offensive Odour fact Sheet - To understand what EPA can to do investigate and act on offensive odour, read the following fact sheet
Odour Recording template - Keeping good records helps to progress reports to prosecution.
Types and Sources of Odour
Compost / Green waste
Greenwaste collected from residential houses is recycled into compost to be used to improve soil conditions including increasing the soils ability to hold water. The process of producing compost can be very odorous due to the decay process of the greenwaste to form the compost. The process releases large volumes of gases including carbon dioxide and organic sulphides.
Greenwaste collected from residential houses is trucked to transfer stations where litter is removed and the waste is mulched and consolidated. The mulched greenwaste is then transferred either to farms or quarries for rehabilitation purposes or to EPA licenced compost facilities where the waste is further processed to form compost. The Metropolitan Waste Management Group co-ordinate the management of green waste within Metropolitan Melbourne.
The high volume of spring rains and warm weather has increased plant growth around Melbourne, causing volumes of green waste from residential homes to increase by up to 30% from normal volumes. The rain also means that the green waste being brought onto site at composting facilities has already begun to compost and is highly odorous.
Rubbish odours
Landfills that accept putrescible waste have been known to create rubbish odours. The odour is made from the decay of organic waste in an oxygenated environment similar to the smell often noticed in household rubbish bins which are exposed to air.
Rubbish odours are managed at the landfill by the operators putting a layer of soil over the waste at the end of each tipping day. This prevents the odour from escaping the landfill.
Landfill gas odours
Landfill gas is a mixture of gases produced as waste decays within landfills in a process known as methanogenesis. Landfill gas odour is different from rubbish odour as the process occurs in an oxygen depleted environment – such as within a landfill. There can be more than 500 types of gas produced by landfills but the mixture is mostly methane and carbon dioxide which are both odourless. Other gases present can include a range of sulphide gases. It is these gases that create the ‘rotten rubbish’ smell of landfill gases.
Landfill gas is extracted from both operating and closed landfills in the Clayton South areas. The gas is piped to an electricity generation plant located on the corner of Deals Road and Ryan Road operated by Energy Developments. Landfill gas is considered a renewable energy resource.
Anaerobic leachate
Anaerobic leachate is water that has been contaminated with waste and has been depleted of oxgyen due to biological/chemical reactions The leachate is highly odorous and has been reported by residents in Dingley Village and in Clarinda and Clayton South area as having an ammonia or sewage type smell.
What can you do?
You can assist EPA with a detailed report if you experience offensive odours by ringing 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842)
You can access a template for recording odours here.
When an odour report is received, EPA collects information from the odour reporter. This information helps to identify the likely source of the odour, how the individual is being affected and the action EPA may take.
Reporting odours
When you make an odour report, information collected by EPA may include:
- time of odour
- name and address of reporter
location of the odour - character and strength of the odour
identity and location of alleged source - length of time of the impact and frequency if it has occurred before
the impact the odour is having on the reporter - wind direction and strength.
EPA can respond promptly to odour reports made by telephone between 8.30 am and 10 pm. Reports made outside this time are recorded by a voice service and referred to investigating officers the following business day. When you make a report, please specify if you would like a return phone call to give further information on the investigation.
Sometimes odours are present for short periods only and it can be difficult for an EPA officer to verify your odour report. To assist us with investigations, it is important you call the 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) as soon as you are aware of the odour. Delaying your call or sending via email will not provide EPA officers with the best chance of being able to verify your report.
Keeping a record of your reports to EPA?
EPA recommends that community reporters use a diary to help remember details of ongoing offensive odour incidents. This will help EPA should the offence reach prosecution as evidence will be required regarding the frequency and the nature of the odour.
What will happen if EPA verifies your odour report?
EPA may ask individuals reporting offensive odour to sign sworn statements detailing the dates and precise times of the odour and why and how the offensiveness of the odour affects their wellbeing.
This is important information that enables EPA to relate the effect of the odour to the area of legislation under which EPA can take enforcement action for odour offences.