Project Number:

3265

Pine Bluff Landfill

SERVICE:

On-Site & Community Odor Survey

DESCRIPTION:

The Pine Bluff Landfill received odor complaints from two very distinct groups: neighbors who lived very near the facility and neighbors who did not live near the facility. Over the last 20 years, the area around the landfill changed dramatically from rural farm and agricultural land to Atlanta suburbs. (Ball Ground is within 50 miles from Atlanta.) As the area has evolved, so have the expectations of the neighbors. The agricultural and rural past is colliding with the suburban present.

There are still many agricultural farms, chicken farms, a wastewater plant, a construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfill, and horse farms in the area. Each of these has the potential for odor generation. In some cases, such as the composting of animal manure and discharges to the local stream from the chicken farm, the odors can be very similar to landfill odors. Tech was charged with deciphering the odor background and developing a detailed report documenting the other potential off-site sources. A detailed report was completed for the facility documenting the location of other potential sources and proximity to neighbors and the landfill. Tech identified odors and traced them back to their sources based on their individual odor character, topography, and meteorological conditions.

Tech was also charged with examining the landfill's odor potential and the potential for future development to identify the long-term odor nuisance potential for the area, as further suburban expansion occurs in the area. This report is part of Waste Management's long-term strategy to understand odor nuisance potential and design the landfill to minimize impacts to its neighbors.

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Key Points

  • A Waste Management landfill located in suburban Atlanta needed to identify its potential for off-site odor and analyze its part of total odor in the community.
  • Tech performed an extensive odor study fingerprinting odor sources and helped the landfill develop long-term odor management goals.