Brooklyn company fined for causing stink

Another Brooklyn company has been caught out creating a stink for nearby residents.

Meat processer JBS Australia has been fined more than $7500 by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for allowing a manure-like odour to leave its site.

EPA metropolitan manager Daniel Hunt said the smell was traced to the Industry Park Drive business after multiple complaints from the community.

“An EPA officer responded to the public reports and conducted an odour survey that included an upwind investigation along Somerville Road and a downwind investigation along Geelong Road to confirm the source,” he said.

“The EPA officer in the field said the odour had pig or cow manure characteristics and confirmed the odour with a local resident who reported it to EPA.”

He said JBS Australia received two remedial notices the day after it was fined following another community report of a rendering-process odour.

“Given the smell was different from the previous day, and likely from a different source at the premises, EPA issued the company with two remedial notices, on top of the fine of $7500, to ensure processes are improved at the site and no further odours leave its boundary,” he said.

Non-compliance can lead to penalties.

Earlier this month, Western Land Reclamation, in Bunting Road, received an EPA remedial notice over burning waste.

An EPA investigation, triggered by complaints to its pollution hotline, found “poor waste management practices” had caused smoke and burning odours to infiltrate nearby homes.

In June, meat rendering company Australian Tallow Producers, in Geelong Road, was fined $1million after a “rotting carcass smell” was emitted from its site three times between June and September 2011.

EPA pollution hotline: 1300 372 842