Odours

Odour Surveys

The Resource Recovery Group conducts monthly Field Ambient Odour Assessments in the community adjacent to the Canning Vale Centre.

The Resource Recovery Group's odour consultant Talis utilises the DWER’s accepted methodology in WA for assessing the ground level impacts of odour emissions based on the German Standard VDI 3940 “Measurement of Odour Impact by Field Inspection”.

Experience in using this scale has shown that observations have a good degree of consistency between observers.

Odour Assessment Methodology

• A minimum of four calibrated, experienced odour assessors are used
• There are four gridded assessment areas (with up to 12 locations in each) which correspond to different wind directions (E, ESE, SE, SSE)
• Up to two gridded areas are assessed each field session (if no wind change the first area is repeated)
• Assessors are ‘staggered’ and rotate locations within the gridded assessment area. Each location is assessed twice (by different assessors)
• Assessors rank presence of odour every 10 seconds for 10 min at each location, using German Standard VDI 3882/3490 scale 0 to 6 (not perceptible, very weak, weak, distinct, strong, very strong, extremely strong)
• The assessment area (and locations within) is considered to be impacted when an intensity rank of 2 (or greater) is observed for 20% (or greater) of the dataset / time period.

*EAQ consultants now conduct monthly Field Ambient Odour Assessments for the Resource Recovery Group, however, the FAOA methodology as outlined in the below document has not changed.*

Methodology used for odour assessment.

Odour Complaints

The Resource Recovery Group is committed to keeping the community informed by providing weekly summaries of complaints received on our Odour Hotline.