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Case Study

Solid Waste Collection Site in Residential Area

Odor Control

Problem

A solid waste transfer station located in the center of a residential area was receiving complaints from residents around their facility. The plant was seeking a solution to odor problems from several sources. The dumpsters used to transfer of waste from collection sites to the transfer station were notorious for emitting strong odors. The transfer station physical plant was also responsible for odor problems. As the waste was dumped into bays for separation and reloading, odors were generated by runoff from the piles. The runoff also caused corrosion problems from leaching hydrogen sulfide. The plant estimated that 50% of the station’s concrete floor had been eroded away over time. The retention pond was also a major contributor to the odor problems at the transfer station.

Solution

An Organic Product was used in the normal wash down cycle of the dumpsters and plant physical facility, applied through the chemical intake line of a pressure wash system at a rate of 6-8 oz./gal. of water. The treatment resulted in immediate reduction of offensive odors. The product was notably effective when rinsing a dumpster used for waste collection at a seafood restaurant. This collection site was notorious for producing extreme odors in the dumpster. After the rinse down was completed a dramatic reduction in the odors was achieved. The results from the wash down of the physical plant facility were also very good.

While the treatment improved the air quality in the facility, the presence of waste transfer trailers loaded with fermenting waste distorted the results. The retention pond was shocked with a 100-PPM treatment of the Organic Product. An immediate reduction in the hydrogen sulfide levels were observed. 24-hours after the shock treatment, odors from the retention pond were reduced to levels only detected in the immediate area of the pond. A daily maintenance program of 10 PPM was recommended to continue the control of the odors.

Conclusion

The treatment of the collection dumpsters and retention pond resulted in outstanding reductions in odors. The application of the product in dumpsters required no additional clean-up steps after the product was applied through chemical uptake lines on the existing pressure washing system. The initial treatment of the retention pond required a system shock, but the daily maintenance would require no additional personnel involvement as a metering pump was utilized to inject the product into the pond.