Lessons Learned in Odour Management at a Composting Facility Dr. Greg Mariotti

Transcription

1 Lessons Learned in Odour Management at a Composting Facility Dr. Greg Mariotti National Compost Conference Gatineau, September 16 th -18 th 2015

2 AGENDA Company Overview Importance of Stakeholder Management Lessons Learned Continuous Improvement Operational Best Practices Performance Metrics Summary

3 COMPANY OVERVIEW Organic waste processor ( Aerobic Composting Wet AD Dry AD Biostimulators Part of the Shanks Group ( Total waste management solutions Haz/Non-Haz MRF, MBT, AD Municipal, IC&I DBO or DBOO models

4 4 Orgaworld London, Ontario In-vessel tunnel composting facility Licensed for 150,000 tonnes per year Opened in 2007

5 Orgaworld Ottawa, Ontario In-vessel tunnel composting facility Licensed for 150,000 tonnes per year Opened in 2010

6 Orgaworld Surrey, British Columbia Combined composting and dry AD fac 90,000 tonnes organics per year Opening in 2017 First closed loop system in NA

7 London, Ontario Brief History Awarded contract in 2005 with a municipality in the GTA to process 35,000 tonnes SSO. Tight timelines to commence operation location needed with existing zoning and similar previous activity. Location found out of town in industrial area but close to small housing developments. Location already processing ~4,000 tonnes SSO for a neighbouring city. Facility start up in Contract awarded with City of Toronto in 2008 to process a further 50,000 tonnes SSO.

8 London, Ontario Location Sewage Pumping Station Harvest Power TRY-Valley Recycling Orgaworld BFI Housing Development Dingman Pumping Station Housing Development City MRF

9 London, Ontario Brief History Odours detected soon after start-up and relationships strained due to expectations. Poor stakeholder management during facility or odour issues. Non-functioning PLC (Public Liaison Committee). Voluntary shut down and major retrofit in ZOAG (Zero Odour Action Group) formed during retrofit with handful of key local residents. ZOAG transitioned to PLC in 2011 residents unhappy. PLC members started campaign in 2012 drawing media attention and local municipal involvement. Stay tuned..

10 Ottawa, Ontario Brief History Contract awarded with the City of Ottawa to process up to 100,000 tonnes of the City s SSO in SSO not collected in plastic bags, no pet waste (yes to kitty litter and animal bedding), diapers or sanitary products. Facility commenced operation in January ZERO complaints related to facility operation since startup.

11 Ottawa, Ontario Location Homes Homes Orgaworld Local Businesses Housing Park Housing Development

12 So what s the difference? Location? o Contributing factor Feedstock Quality? o Not necessarilly Tonnage? o Ottawa processes much more waste than London at times but with less abatement capacity RELATIONSHIPS!

13 Relationships in London Relationship audit carried out in London Summer 2012 Orgaworld lost control of reputation PLC not functioning zero odours Limited community relations efforts and no outreach program Portrayed negatively Focused on vocal minority Complaints coming from minority By Contrast. THE RESULTS Lots of odour complaints PLC members trying to close down the facility Poor relationships with key stakeholders

14 Relationships in Ottawa Long term relationship in Ottawa Extensive pre-consultation Ongoing outreach activities Expectations well managed Understanding of rest odours Good news media stories THE RESULTS Zero odour complaints PLC support Excellent relations

15 Lessons Learned Convey and manage realistic expectations Correct any misunderstandings in a timely manner We re not a flower shop. We process waste. The London Free Press, August 2, 2012 What smells offensive is a matter of personal opinion. That along with unfulfilled expectations is what is lingering in the air. Daryl Newcombe CTV Reporter during the August 29, 2012, 6:00 pm news Frankly, I don t find it both inside and outside the plant as overpoweringly awful as I d expected. This is, after all, a place that processes garbage. And there s no two ways about it garbage smells. Ian Gillespie, The London Free Press October 11, 2012

16 Lessons Learned Location, location, location Communication, communication, communication Respond to misinformation with objectivity Speak up and defend yourself Listen to silent majority Adapt to cultural differences

17 Continuous Improvement Ammonia scrubber upgrades (CFIA fertilizer) Bioscrubber optimization following intensive sampling and testing Investigation of new technologies such as Reverse Osmosis, Ultra Filtration, Photoionization SCADA software reprogramming E-Nose Peer reviews by external specialists from Canada, Europe and the US Door-to-door survey Open House

18 Scrubber Upgrades Cooling System

19 Open House 2014

20 E-Nose RO/UF

21 Operational Best Practice Developed bench strength. Proactive management of abatement systems complete with set up of onsite laboratory for in-process testing. Diligence with monthly inspections and tests over and above minimum requirements. Thorough preventative maintenance plans including key spare parts inventory to minimize failure downtime

22 Performance Metrics Stack Testing Date Test Result December June March August June October th November th November

23 Performance Metrics Odour Complaints Orgaworld Complaints 43 out of 54 from 3 Homes (80%)

24 Performance Metrics Odour Complaints 6 Orgaworld Complaints 24 out of 25 from 3 Homes (96%)

25 Complaints Categorized by PLC and Non PLC Members Proportion of Complaints PLC Members (%) Non PLC (%) Total Number of Complaints

26 Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar-13 Apr-13 May-13 Jun-13 Jul-13 Aug-13 Sep-13 Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Mean Odour Score Aug-12 Sep-12 Oct-12 Nov-12 Dec-12 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar-13 Apr-13 May-13 Jun-13 Jul-13 Aug-13 Sep-13 Oct-13 Nov-13 Dec-13 Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Mean Percent od Detection Performance Metrics 360 Sniff Tours 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Rate of Detection Orgaworld Other* Extent of Odour Orgaworld Other*

27 Summary Initial and ongoing stakeholder management is key Don t promise the earth to then not deliver Never rest on your laurels continuously improve Bring as much objectivity as possible to a subjective issue

28 We live in an industrial, throw-away society, and seem averse to taking responsibility for the consequences of our lifestyle. By far, the best individual solution is home composting. Of course this limits you to vegetable scraps and the like (can't throw out meat or diapers). Still, facilities such as this are necessary so we don't fill up our landfills unnecessarily. I'm glad to see Orgaworld working on odour abatement plans, and continuing a program of continual improvements towards that goal. I hope they, and the community finally find themselves in a more harmonious relationship. Reader comments on the October 11, 2012 LFP story If anyone should have an issue with disgusting odors it should be thepeople of south and central London thanks to the Labbatt's Brewery! SHUT IT DOWN! Krosilius, in response to August 29, :00 pm CTV news story Thank You! What I worry about is that with the property values it is almost initiated by the wind opponents coming in with signs and attention on possible negative effects of wind turbines. It is almost a created problem. Jutta Splettstoesser, president of Friends of Wind Ontario. Orgaworld Dutch Technology Succeeds in London, Ontario Solid Waste and Recycling, August/September 2014