April 2011
History
Cargill operates a vegetable oil processing plant located at 425 Somerville Rd, Brooklyn (formerly West Footscray) on the corner of Holmwood Rd. Oilseed processing began on the site in the 1950’s originally by Meggitts, before being purchased by Cargill in 1982. The facility primarily processes canola seed to produce crude degummed oil and protein meal.
An odour abatement strategy was formulated and submitted to the EPA in 2005, with recommendations to install two biofilters to treat process air streams. One was completed in August 2006 and the second completed in October 2007, at a total cost of $1.1 million.
There was an increase in odour complaints in early 2010 as well as a spot site visit from the EPA in June 2010 which found other environmental issues. Cargill engaged consultants The Odour Unit to review the installed system and make recommendations for improvement. The Odour Unit are Australia’s leading consultant in the prevention of odour from industrial facilities and biofilters in particular.
Cargill began negotiating an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the EPA as an alternative to court action
to deliver benefits above and beyond compliance.
Environmental Supervisor
On the 15th of March 2011 Cargill appointed Joe Coleiro as the Environmental Supervisor at the Brooklyn site. This is a new position that has been created to focus effort on environmental compliance.
In this role, Joe will develop and manage the sites environment management systems, as well as be the contact person for the local community regarding any environmental concerns. Joe studied Chemical Engineering at Melbourne University and has experience in project, production and maintenance management at Cargill.
Odour Control System Audit
The Odour Unit have completed an initial system review of all installed odour control equipment and, as part of the requirements of the Enforceable Undertaking, will complete quarterly an odour control system audits. The first of these audits was conducted in March this year. The results of all audits are forwarded to the EPA and acted upon by Cargill.
An expert on fugitive emissions will be required to complete a smoke test on the odour control system before March 2012.
Odour Control System Changes Since May 2010
Further improvements and changes made to the existing odour control system include:
• Auto closing roller doors and human entry doors on all building access points.
• New fan for the preparation building biofilter to increase the captured airflow
• Replacement inlet ventilation duct on the preparation biofilter to remove air flow restriction
• Reconfiguring the cooling heat exchangers on the preparation biofilter
• Returning to service the second solvent plant biofilter cell
Odour Control System Recommendations in Progress
A wet scrubber designed to replace an existing cyclone in the preparation building has been designed by The Odour Unit. This will assist in removing particulates and oil mist from the air before being treated by the biofilter.
An air-atomising water spray system has been designed by The Odour Unit to help cool and humidify the air stream into the preparation plant biofilter.
For further information please contact Joe Coleiro by phone on 9314 0933 or by email via joe_coleiro@cargill.com