By Candice Boyle
ENOUGH compost to fill one and a half olympic-sized swimming pools has been moved out of Brooklyn to help reduce odour emissions across the West.
About 3000 cubic metres of material and unscreened compost has been moved from the former Organic Recyclers site since the new owners took over the business in August.
The initial removal of compost is the beginning of new management plans SITA Environmental Solutions will undertake as part of a major clean-up to reduce odour emissions.
Clean-up efforts have also been undertaken by Cargill to help reduce the odours being emitted by their operations.
Cargill spokesman Robert Green the company had spent more than $1million on new bio filters to reduce potential odour emissions.
The continued clean-up follows a Yarraville action group’s call for State Government intervention if odour problems were not rectified soon.
SITA state general manager Daniel Fyfe said his company was aware that under previous management the site had produced strong odours that disturbed local residents.
“Unlike SITA, the previous owner did not have immediate access to facilities to remove and store stock-piled compost material,” he said.
“As a result, they were forced to let the material build up at the site, which was a major contributor to the offensive odours.”
Mr Fyfe said company representatives had met with community groups, Environment Protection Authority Victoria and Maribyrnong, Brimbank and Hobsons Bay city councils.
“We will continue this dialogue and keep the community informed of improvements to the site at each stage of the process,” he said.
Mr Green said Cargill was also keen to address the concerns of the community.
“We are taking the issues raised by local residents near our Footscray facility very seriously and are working with the EPA to make sure we continue to meet environmental guidelines and regulations,” he said.
