Flagrant Fragrance: Does the Landfill Smell Stronger Than Usual?

To be frank, a landfill is never going to smell like flowers. But over the past several weeks Patch users sent emails wondering if perhaps the smell wafting from the landfill is more potent than usual.

“There are some days that it smells so bad we have to close our windows,” said James Salsbury on the Patch Facebook page. 

James isn’t alone.  

“I seem to smell it in areas I didn't before - such as Appleton and Pilgrim,” said Bill Cole.

So with some residents’ olfactory nerves on alert, Patch went straight to the source to see if there’s any science behind the stench. Patch contacted Daniel Otzelberger, who is the environmental engineer at the Orchard Ridge Recycling and Disposal Factility.  

“We are very sensitive to the public’s perception of our operation.  We take any concerns anyone may have very seriously and welcome the opportunity to respond and educate people on the landfill’s operation,” Otzelberger said.

Though residents may have noticed a change, Otzelberger said operations have remained status quo at the landfill. Otzelberger said crews deploy several odor control techniques to limit any off-site odors. Crews often mix wood chips with waste streams, immediately dump soil on waste, and recover the gas.

“There has been no change in our landfill operations that would result in any increase in landfill odors.  We do from time to time get different waste streams that may have more odor than your typical municipal solid waste, but operating procedures are in place to manage these waste loads properly,” Otzelberger said.  “At this point, we feel the cover practices at the landfill have been good, and operation of the gas recovery system has been efficient.”

But residents also have their own theories as to why the landfill seems a bit more potent this year. Kristi Elise, who lives on Bonnie Lane, is a resident who knows the landfill a bit more than most. Her home is directly across the landfill, and she has her own theory about the smell.

“It is because of the heat and humidity - and now with the rain - it's going to be stinky for a bit. It comes and goes - really nothing they can do about it. It's garbage,” Elise wrote on the Patch Facebook page.

Others believe the smell has more to due with air pressure rather than humidity. 

“Wait for the barometric pressure to change. Lower pressure means less gas,” wrote Patch user Brian Sutter.

As it turns out, the gas from the waste isn’t just powerful to nasal passages – it’s also used for electrical power. The gas extracted from the landfill powers turbines that generate enough electricity to power 13,000 homes, according to Waste Management. The power generated from the landfill is then sold to local utilities.  

“While we strive to be an odor free operation to our neighbors, that can be challenging at times,” Otzelberger said. “However, if proper landfill cover operations are being followed and the gas recovery system is operating efficiently, landfill odors should be properly controlled.”

The Orchard Ridge landfill is roughly 20 million cubic yards in size, and it opened in 1994 and has an estimated life of 23 years. Approximately 700,000 tons of municipal waste is disposed annually at the site. 

Two years ago, the village agreed to negotiate with Waste Management to expand the landfill into roughly 200 acres bordered by Main Street and 124th Street, which would extend the life of the landfill to 2030 or 2032.  The land is owned by Waste Management. 

The village receives a per-ton tipping fees from Waste Management for the landfill. Revenues from tipping fees have helped fund the library and renovations to Village Hall. From 1994 to 2008, the village received roughly $30 million in tipping fee revenue.

So, have you noticed something different in the winds as you travel through the village? Tell us in the comments.