Odour Reduction Program 2000 - 2005
Abstract
In the past five years (2000 – 2004) AMCOR Botany Mill has received a substantial number of complaints from the surrounding community regarding odour from their recycled paper making operation. Recent technology improvements at the paper mill have substantially improved the community response to odour impacts.
Prior to 1999 odour complaints along with complaints from other impacts eg.noise were infrequently received by AMCOR. However, in 1999 their was a substantial increase in community concern to odours generated at the paper mill at which time AMCOR commenced investigation into odour reduction.
In 2002 the NSW EPA (now DEC) formalised the odour reduction investigations by implementing a Pollution Reduction Program (PRP) for the AMCOR Botany Paper Mill. The PRP required AMCOR to undertake a detailed investigation of odour controls at the existing paper mill including, chemical process improvements. The progressive implementation of these
controls has resulted in a substantially improved community response to odours at the Botany Paper Mill.
This paper provides a case history of measured and modelled odour impacts at Botany Mill demonstrating the degree to which paper making process improvements have resulted in reduced odour impacts. The paper also provides a summary of the significant community consultation program AMCOR has undertaken with the local community. The success of this medium for measuring odour impact, as well as assisting with strengthening AMCORs relationship with the community is demonstrated.