Dear Editor,
As you all might know, Harvest Power was just given a four-year permit approval to continue to operate their business of processing all of Metro Vancouver green cart waste at their facility on York Road in Richmond.
The 46-page document looks impressive, and it should because of the considerable outcry last winter of residents who were very upset with the noxious smells that were outside their homes and seeping inside, particularly at night and in the morning.
The summer months were good, but as soon as mid-September rolled around, so did the stink.
Could it be that the mountains of waste do not like damp, cool weather, and the heat from the inside pushes the volatile organic compounds to the surface and into our air shed?
I am not a professional, all I know is that I live 15 km west of this plant and if it’s revolting to me, it must be affecting others, as well.
Thanksgiving was so smelly it spoiled our holiday.
It appears that Metro Vancouver doesn’t care about the residents’ concerns, and it seems quite apparent that the mayor and council of Richmond do not care about this issue because they are allowing it to happen, and it’s only getting worse.
We have two weeks left to appeal this permit as citizens who are fed up with this disgrace to our quality of life. All I want is to be able to smell clean air, not air that upsets my stomach.
Give me your thoughts on my Facebook page “Stop the Stink in Richmond.”
Burke Elizabeth Austin
Richmond
