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Waste and incineration odour: what you need to know

Waste treatment, storage, and incineration sites are among the most frequently reported sources of odour nuisance in urban and peri-urban areas.

Where do these odours come from?
  • fermentation of unstabilised organic waste
  • prolonged open-air storage
  • occasional air treatment failures on incineration furnaces
  • transport, unloading, and handling operations
  • wind and weather conditions pushing emissions toward homes
What the regulation says

Waste storage and treatment facilities fall notably under ICPE category 2760. Regulation requires, for example:

  • burial of unstabilised waste within a maximum of 48 hours to limit odour nuisance
  • a minimum distance of 100 metres between an odorous spreading area and homes or public-facing buildings
Full detail →
What can you do?
  1. 1Report the odour episode, with the time and type of smell perceived
  2. 2Check the report map for your area
  3. 3Track trends over time
  4. 4Contact the regional authority or your local council if the nuisance persists
A letter template to contact the administration

As a registered member, access a report-to-administration form with a letter template pre-filled from your report history.

Access the letter template

Bothered by a waste or smoke odour right now?

Report this odour