Yeast plant promises to remedy Umbogintwini bad odour
The smell emanating from the yeast plant is described as similar to that of rotting cauliflower or rotten flesh.
RYMCO (Pty) Ltd, a company that trades as Anchor Yeast at the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex (UIC), has promised that plans are afoot to address the problem of a bad smell that emanates from its plant.
At a recent stakeholders’ meeting, Athlone Park community members and other tenants from the sprawling complex, met with Rymco management to address the matter. Rob Mills, a resident, described the smell as similar to rotting cauliflower or rotten flesh.
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“I and others have complained to Anchor Yeast over the past five years about this, but communication on their side has been very poor. Every time the wind changes to a south-westerly direction and there is low cloud cover, we know that the smell is coming,” said Mills.
A representative from another company that operates at the UIC, not far from Rymco, who identified himself as Lance, said his staff had been badly affected.
“We are also experiencing the same problem, and we have made multiple complaints. Sometimes, the smell gets so bad that my staff can’t eat,” said Lance.
Rymco’s Mike Crowley acknowledged the complaints and said there are plans for a long-term mechanical solution. He also promised that the company will improve communication with the relevant stakeholders whenever an odour complaint has been reported.
In a media statement sent after the meeting, the company said it is environmentally responsible and has a long track record of compliance with environmental health and safety issues.
“We acknowledge that given our recent development of the anaerobic digestion plant, we have experienced some odours emanating from what we believe may be our effluent buffer tanks whenever they are operating at high levels. That said, odour is a complex issue that requires timely identification and investigation to address and eliminate the root causes thereof. We are managing the issues at the plant in line with actions proposed by our consultants and agreed with the Umbogotwini Industrial Association,” it said.
The company undertook to investigate and address all odour issues emanating from within its plant and when they are reported. It did, however, point out that the plant is surrounded by several industries which may potentially emit other odours.
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