Dear Editor,
Re: “Get used to that smell,” News, Nov. 25.
Harvest Power is the source of the foul odour that residents and businesses have endured daily all across Richmond since it started its operation in 2012.
This is a company dedicated to recycling organic and green waste near No. 7 Road and Blundell Road in Richmond.
Their emissions of foul odour not only affect the entire city of Richmond, but also South Vancouver, New Westminster, Burnaby, Surrey, and Delta.
Under their new permit application, Harvest Power is requesting authorization to increase their air contamination and odour emission limits by seven times their current allowable limits, from 43.94 to 286.71 tonnes per year.
This is an impressive increase, considering the many complaints Metro Vancouver has received from residents affected by foul odours originating from this plant.
Richmond residents should be particularly worried to know that the new permit will allow Harvest Power a critical increase in their emission limit for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), from 22.93 to 245.28 tonnes per year. VOCs are carbon-containing gases and vapours.
Some, according to Environment Canada, are known or suspected of having direct toxic effects on humans, ranging from carcinogenesis to neurotoxicity. An increase of such magnitude must be known to Richmond residents.
Carmen Magana
Richmond
