Odor Study Under Way in Delaware

[TexasStooge]

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Even though it's been almost three years, Tina Robinson can distinctly recall when she first noticed the odor that sometimes permeates her home.

"It literally woke me up out of my sleep," the East Wilmington resident said. "My dog was throwing up because of the stench."

Robinson's wake-up call, along with hundreds of other complaints received over the years from people living along the heavily industrialized Interstate 495 corridor, is the subject of a state study.

Having established an "odor round-table" that includes industry representatives and lawmakers and taken "chemical signatures" of landfills, sewage facilities and industrial sites, officials are taking field samples in response to complaints, most of which come from the Edgemoor area northeast of Wilmington.

State officials are trying to sniff out the source or sources of the odors by comparing the field samples to the chemical signatures of 18 industrial facilities.

"It's a responsible, scientific approach to identifying odor sources," said David Small, deputy secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

But some area residents say the answer is as plain as the nose on your face.

"I think it's the landfill," said Steve Tindall, referring to the 240-acre Cherry Island landfill run by the Delaware Solid Waste Authority. "I've been to the landfill and I've smelled the smell, and they're the same. ... You open a bag of week-old garbage, that's what it smells like."

State and federal environmental officials announced fines last week of more than $200,000 against the DSWA for repeatedly failing to control emissions from the landfill of gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide.

But while the DSWA has received at least six criminal citations over the past year for violating a state law against odor emissions, it is not the only landfill in the area, nor the only possible source of odors.

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[JCT777]

There are a lot of people who probably think that Delaware stinks.

[Guest]

There are a lot of people who probably think that Delaware stinks.

Perhaps so and whats worse is that its along the most heavly traveled area in the state.(Part of i95 corridor) i495 is a bypass for those wanting to avoid driving thru Wilmington itself which alot of people use to get to Philly and the rest of the NE and south to the Balt/DC metro areas. BTW this place does stink like you wouldnt believe and has been this way as far back as i can remember back into the 70s. I have traveled that stretch of highway many of times for to and from Philly and believe me it STANKS and always upsets my stomach!!!

Trust me though the rest of the State of Delaware does not smell like that especially once you get south of Wilmington going towards the Coastal areas in the southern part of the state.

[streetsoldier]

How do I contact them to do a sweep of coppertop's room?

[george_r_1961]

I live within 3 miles of two municipal landfillls...there has never been a problem with odor. Hats off to our sanitation workers!!