Smell test
Debert residents subjected to foul stench from waste-disposal facility
The stench from an industrial waste-disposal site is making outdoor activities almost impossible for Debert residents.
The Envirosystems waste disposal facility has been processing non-hazardous waste for years, but while there has always been odour, some say it’s never been this bad.
“We’ve lived here for four years, and up until this year, we’ve never smelled it at our house,” said Jennifer Sangster, who lives in Crowes Mills.
“It is to the point when the smell does make it to our area; it is so strong we have to go inside and shut our windows, or even leave our home for awhile.”
Recently, community members began complaining about the smell from the site, and even created a Facebook page to log when and where the scent is the worst.
Complaints have also been made to Envirosystems, as well as to municipal councillors in hopes of getting something done.
“I’ve had a few calls about it myself, and I am sure other councillors have, too,” said Coun. Tom Taggart.
“I myself have smelled it as far away as Masstown by the market. It was just terrible smelling.”
Contacted for comment, an Envirosystems representative referred to a company fact sheet.
The smell originates from a combination of higher than normal concentrated sulfur buildup in the facility’s wastewater ponds and rising water temperatures from the summer weather, according to the fact sheet.
While the stench has become a hot-button topic for the people of Debert this summer, it’s been an issue for some time.
“This has been an ongoing problem; it’s not new,” said Taggart.
“They made a presentation to our council in January about it, and advised us the odour was coming from the buildup of sludge in one of those ponds. It needs to be fixed, and it isn’t unrealistic for the residents to expect that. People have a right to enjoy their property.”
The matter has been placed on the agenda for this Thursday’s municipal council meeting, and Taggart hopes to get the situation straightened out.
“When this goes to council, I will be suggesting that we have a strong discussion with Envirosystems to suggest that without some significant co-operation on their part, we will need to review our permit allowing discharge into our wastewater treatment plant,” he said.
In the fact sheet, Envirosystems says removing the buildup and treating the water during the summer months would make the stench much worse.
Instead, the company is using deodorizers and pH adjustment to temporarily dull the smell until the weather gets cooler.
“They have to react to it, and
hopefully this will wake them up,” said Taggart.
“I do understand that kind of business is a necessary evil, but they do have to be good corporate citizens, and that is what it really comes down to.”
The sheet also says the company ran air quality tests, and no
health concerns were found.
Even though the tests show there are no health hazards, the concern is still there for members of the community.
“It is a concern, it’s chemicals,” said Sangster. “Everyone now is trying to get rid of chemicals in their home, but here we are,
forced to deal with them without a choice.
“When it is really strong, it makes your eyes water, and you can feel it robbing you of your breath. You just can’t stay outside.”