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Carney neighbours want odour gone

Steven Hill shill@squamishchief.com A delegation of business owners and at least one homeowner on Tuesday (March 7) told Squamish Council they wanted action taken on the odour problem at Carney's Organic Recycling facility.

Steven Hill

shill@squamishchief.com

A delegation of business owners and at least one homeowner on Tuesday (March 7) told Squamish Council they wanted action taken on the odour problem at Carney's Organic Recycling facility.

Two weeks ago, Squamish Council gave Carney's composting operation formal notice of a hearing to be held March 21 to consider the termination of the company's business license for "non-compliance" with operating conditions of their license regarding problem odours emanating from the facility.

Carney's Waste Systems opened the organic recycling facility more than two years ago on Queens Way, and a rezoning bylaw was permitted based on assurances no odours would come from the business. However, those assurances proved fruitless as soon as the first load arrived at the five-acre site in February 2004.

"The odours are quite prevalent," said James Whittaker, the first to address council. "When I first built my house it was the only thing in the industrial park. When meetings were held about the composting facility proposal, I felt ridiculed by Carney's consultant when I questioned if there would be odour problems."

Whittaker said the site could not be left as it was, and blamed the business for an increase in rodents in the area. He also told council he did not believe the District should opt to help pay for moving the facility, if that is what they decide March 21.

Although he praised Owen Carney for his community service and called him a "good employer", Whittaker said he felt like he was held "prisoner" by the smells.

"Owners and workers of nearby businesses can get away from the smell at the end of the day," he said. "But as a homeowner, we are held captive by the smell. The plant can not be allowed to impact its neighbours."

Business owners said although they could indeed leave the smells at the end of the day, their workers were still affected by the foul odours.

"It is detrimental to all the businesses in the business park," said Ken Pickering of Mountain Building Supplies. "People leave work with headaches and flu-like symptoms because of the smell. The bylaw says there must be no odour, and for two years they have been going against the bylaw. Council has to enforce the bylaw."

Frank Ryan from Howe Sound Taxi agreed.

"We have to quickly run into our offices and close the door to avoid letting the smell in," he said. "The odours are bordering on a health concern."

Paul Turner, another neighbour of the composting facility, said he had concerns Carney's had never been issued tickets or fines for contravening the no odour bylaw.

"I would suggest that of all the options outlined two weeks ago, council should go with option two and suspend the company's business license until such a time as work is completed to ensure the facility is odour free," he said.

At the Feb. 21 council meeting, district staff put forward three options for council to consider at the March 21 hearing. The first recommendation is to revoke Carney's Organic Recycling's business license, the second is to suspend the license, the third is to enforce a relocation plan.

Tuesday's delegation was part of a call for public input on the issue before council undertakes the hearing.

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