FAQs • Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, FL • CivicEngage

Is the SWA the source of all objectionable odors in the County?: No. Other sources of odors are: wastewater treatment plants, lift stations, natural gas substations, groundwater irrigation wells, decaying organics in stagnant water, garbage trucks servicing their routes, commercial and residential dumpsters.

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Renewable Energy Facility 2 Supplemental Waste

1. Will the supplemental waste add odor issues in our community?: No. The supplemental waste, which may be used to fuel Renewable Energy Facility 2 until there is enough local waste to fill the plant to capacity, will be delivered directly in a waste storage pit within an enclosed building. The Tipping Building is under what is referred to as “negative pressure.” Specifically, the under-fire and over-fire air that is drawn into the boilers is drawn from the Tipping and Fuel Storage Buildings at REF 2. The facility is designed to prevent odiferous air from exiting the building.

2. What is the possible source of odor at the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County’s Renewable Energy Park on N. Jog Road?: The most significant source of odor from the SWA’s Renewable Energy Park, as determined by engineering studies, is the landfill.

3. Are there more odor complaints now than before?: No. The SWA records and investigates all odor complaints received, and based upon those records, the number of complaints received by the SWA is actually down since 2012.

4. What does the SWA do when it receives an odor complaint?: The SWA logs all odor complaints when received. The complaint is then investigated to determine the source of the odor. The investigation includes an evaluation of the type of odor, the wind direction at the time the odor was experienced, and the activities taking place at the time. The objective is to determine if the odor could have originated at the SWA, and if so, which of the SWA’s operations was the source. In cases where the odor is identified to have come from the SWA, this information is then used to enhance or modify our operations.

5. What actions has the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County taken to mitigate the potential for odors from its operations?: The Solid Waste Authority has taken several steps to mitigate potential for odors from its operations. Learn more about odor mitigation actions.

6. Is the SWA the source of all objectionable odors in the County?: No. Other sources of odors are: wastewater treatment plants, lift stations, natural gas substations, groundwater irrigation wells, decaying organics in stagnant water, garbage trucks servicing their routes, commercial and residential dumpsters.

7. What are the permit conditions that the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County has to follow for its operation?: Objectionable Odor Prohibited:
No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the discharge of air pollutants, which cause or contribute to an objectionable odor. An “objectionable odor” means any odor present in the outdoor atmosphere which by itself or in combination with other odors, is or may be harmful or injurious to human health or welfare, which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable use and enjoyment of life or property, or which creates a nuisance [Rule 62-293.300(1) & 62-210.200 (Definitions), F.A.C.].

8. Has the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County ever been cited by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for not meeting its permit conditions related to odors?: No. In fact, of the more than 53 times the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has been onsite for inspections from 2012 to June 2014, only 3 times were specifically in response to odor complaints, and the Authority was not cited in those cases.