If you believe Des Moines’ odor problems have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks, you may be right: Pine Ridge Farms’ “stink-burning” technology system is broken.
Why it matters: Odor complaints had dramatically declined since the city installed its scientific “eNose” system two years ago.
- The company’s $2 million high-temperature regenerative thermal oxidizer is credited with driving much of the change.
Catch up quick: Des Moines officials have spent decades trying to better quantify and respond to complaints about the city’s “putrid rotting smell.”
- A 2021 study identified the three most significant odor sources at three animal processing plants in industrial areas east of downtown, including Pine Ridge — a pork packing plant and subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.
State of play: Each of the businesses has cooperated in remediating the problem.
- The total number of city complaints between February 2024 — when Pine Ridge’s oxidizer began operation — and March of that year fell by more than half, from 37 to 16, according to city data.
The latest: Smithfield notified the city that its oxidizer broke shortly after Christmas, city spokesperson Peter Zemansky tells Axios.
- Replacement equipment is on order, and the oxidizer will be fixed as soon as possible, Smithfield spokesperson Ray Atkinson told Axios on Friday.
Yes, but: A backup scrubber is being used instead, and the company is staying in compliance with air regulations, Atkinson said…