NOSE®: Controlling odor pollution
Presented by SUEZ Environnement
CONTEXT
Controlling odor pollution is a major challenge for SUEZ Environment as it attempts to consolidate its professional image and make life more comfortable for residents living in the vicinity of its facilities. As such, thanks to a dynamic, innovative and cross-company move – driven by this desire to improve – a new modular program entitled NOSE® has now been established. This program is used in three of SUEZ Environment's activities: wastewater collection and treatment, sludge recycling and waste management.
INNOVATION
The NOSE® program provides a comprehensive solution to odour control. A total of 12 of SUEZ Environment's subsidiaries confronted with the problem of odor pollution have worked together to design the program and are now implementing both its design and operational phases. It entails both technical aspects and an approach geared towards local residents, to ensure their lives are - and remain - comfortable. Technical innovations such as the Odor Wheel (Roue des odeurs®), the olfactory laboratory, the local residents' panel and the concept of odour-creating potential have also been developed.
RESULTS
Since 2005, there has been no major crisis within the Group. Where odor control is concerned, SUEZ Environment has shifted from a defensive approach (risk management) to an offensive one (launching odor-reducing initiatives). Moreover, the NOSE® program promotes contact and dialogue with local residents, helps to improve their quality of life, builds up the respective local economy and promotes the establishment of regional roots.
