Residents living near landfills can expect even more pungent odours during the cold and wet weather, the Environment Protection Authority has warned.
Offensive odour reports to the EPA rise at this time of the year as rain reduces the effectiveness of gas extraction systems, and still daytime conditions followed by a cold night cause gases to become trapped.
“EPA regularly inspects landfills and meets with landfill operators to address odour issues, and urges the community to continue reporting offensive odour,” EPA Victoria acting metro manager Dan Hunt said.
But Stop the Tip campaigner Marion Martin said foul smells from the Ravenhall landfill were not restricted to the colder months.
“Today, we had a really bad smell and it was just rotten garbage,” Ms Martin said last week.
“We have to live through that smell – you can’t go outside.”
Stop the Tip campaigners have been rating smells coming from the landfill since November 2013. Using a scale from 1-10, Ms Martin said, on average, the smell for the past few months had rated at an eight or nine.
“If you go out on to Robinsons Road [Deer Park] and it [the odour] stings the back of your throat, it’s a nine or 10,” she said.
To report odour pollution, call 1300 372 842.
