Composting sites could generate odour nuisances in the environment if not operated optimally in terms of odour. The implementation of a continuous odour monitoring system, OdoWatch, based on e-nose technology allows operators to better understand how and when odour incidents occur and what actions can be taken to reduce emissions.
A continuous odour monitoring system, fitted with 5 e-noses, a weather station and an odour dispersion modelling software, was set up at one of the largest composting sites in Europe. Although several sources were identified from the beginning as being likely to generate odour nuisances, monitoring enabled the identification of the 0-3 week fermentation source as being responsible for 87% of the nuisances generated.
The operator’s efforts reduced odour nuisances which had increased by more than 40% over a 6-month period and by nearly 75% after 2 years. The nuisance level in inhabited areas was, to start with, relatively low, but was greatly reduced by the operator's diligence, using measurements made by the OdoWatch system in real time, and by continuous improvement of the techniques used.