Refurbishment of an odour collection and biofilter treatment system at a municipal solid waste composting facility in Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

[Abstract] This paper discusses a case study at a large, regional Municipal Solid Waste composting plant in Perth, Western Australia, where odour emissions from the facility have resulted in adverse odour impacts in the surrounding community. The plant was designed as a fully-enclosed operation, where all ventilation air from two major processing buildings was to be collected and treated in four large biofilters. The paper describes a detailed investigation into the collection and treatment systems at the plant, which identified deficiencies in the design of both systems. It contains the results of the physical and olfactory investigations, and documents the design for an upgraded collection and biofilter-treatment system that has subsequently been installed.