Help for farmers when an odour complaint arrives

How can it happen at all that a livestock business is reported to the authorities? Especially when it has been doing the same thing in the same place for decades. What can be done in such a case? Is the indignant resident really right?

Nobody expects to be reported by their own neighbours, or even by people living nearby. And to an authority whose existence the average person barely knows about. The complainants may "only" get as far as the mayor or the town clerk, or perhaps give the farmer a bad name on social media or elsewhere. In such cases people do not complain only about real problems; envy can also play a big part.

If an ordinary farmer feels that everyone is attacking them over the smell of manure, silage or waste, it is important to know: you are not alone!

Others have also been in a similarly difficult situation.

And they found a solution!

In Hungary there is already a professional network prepared to help businesses struggling with odour complaints.

Odour problems in Hungary are not the same as in other countries. In Italy, for example, agricultural and food industry plants are far from residential areas, whereas old metal and plastics processing factories have gradually been surrounded by the housing boom of recent decades.

In Hungary a similar process took place with livestock farms, slaughterhouses and other players in the food industry. The environmental experts of these companies were the first to face odour complaints. They were the experts who first became familiar with the relevant part of air protection legislation, which states clearly: residents must not be burdened with disturbing odours!

In addition, a few dedicated specialists also began to study and measure odours in line with international standards. Today there are two companies in Hungary with an accredited dynamic olfactometry laboratory, able to examine the intensity, character and impact area of odours using the accepted procedure set out in Government Decree 306/2010.

These measurements can confirm or refute whether a given site really burdens residents beyond the permitted level. 

Over the years, both a circle of environmental engineers and the measuring laboratories have built up substantial professional experience and a network of contacts that allows them to give farmers sound advice and refer them to representatives of the most effective odour reduction technologies.

And the effectiveness of odour reduction cannot be left to the noses and personal judgement of a few individuals (the managing director, an employee, the lady next door). In every case, the effectiveness of the technology must be demonstrable by measurement! This is especially important where the authorities are already investigating the impact of the odour on residents.

We must assure residents that we have done everything we can, and that on our own site a technology that genuinely and verifiably works is binding the odours.

If the worst has happened and the phone is ringing off the hook with odour complaints, don't panic! Contact the Telepszagtalanítás team so that we can help as soon as possible and prepare the right technical proposal!