Tracking source of stink in south London will require 24-7 high-tech surveillance
City council will consider spending $303,990 to participate in a first-of-its-kind monitoring network to detect and predict the periodic rotten odour in neighbourhoods south of Highway 401.
“We will now have a technology that will be sniffing 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” explains Jay Stanford, director of Climate Change, Environment and Solid Waste.
Stanford recommends adding City Hall’s W12A landfill to a new detection network for three years.
Odour sensors and a new weather station would be positioned around the perimeter of the landfill to detect hydrogen sulphide, a foul smelling gas.
“(We’ll be) able to predict and reduce odours at the W12A landfill site,” says Stanford.
The detection network includes participation by the StormFisher Environmental biofuel plant, the Convertus composting facility, and the City of Toronto’s Green Lane landfill.
A decade of failed attempts by City Hall and the province to snuff out the stink, however, has Brockley resident Allan Tipping skeptical of the latest plan.
“I live five kilometres from W12A and I smell it here,” says Tipping.
He believes City Hall is simply trying to satisfy provincial concerns about expanding the landfill.
“They have to prove that they are protecting the environment around (the W12A landfill),” he adds. “This doesn’t really protect it, but it gives (City Hall) technical data to say this wasn’t our smell.”
The city is undertaking an environmental assessment to extend the lifespan of the landfill by 25 years (to 2049) and increase the height by 26 metres.
Stanford asserts the intent of the monitoring network is to build on recent success reducing odour complaints.
“This has been one of our best years ever, the technology we are bringing in will help us better understand why.”
Though he doubts the technology’s effectiveness, Tipping hopes to be nearing the end of a decade of odour-spoiling outdoor activities.
This summer he’s only called in two or three odour complaints to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
“I’m actually enjoying my summer here. My pool has been open. People are coming over again.”
If approved by council later this summer, the detection system will begin operating in October.
All current odour enforcement and abatement activities in south London will continue in the area.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Stormy Daniels is expected to appear at Trump's hush money trial on Tuesday
Donald Trump returns to the hush money trial Tuesday facing a threat of jail time for additional gag order violations as prosecutors gear up to summon big-name witnesses including porn actor Stormy Daniels.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.