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Garbage Chutes Reek Havoc
August, 2010
Natural Extracts Can Neutralize Odours
By Thea Saarimaki
Odour problems can make an otherwise perfect building unliveable. The tons of garbage that pass through a building’s waste management system – chutes compactor, bins, garbage room – can lead to bacteria growth, grease and fat build-up and a breeding grounds for pests. Meanwhile, the increasing prevalence of green bin programs and organics recycling presents new challenges.
It’s equally important that odour control practices be acceptable to building occupants, mangers and owners. Chemical products can be hazardous, while other do-it-yourself practices can be more costly than commercial odour control systems.
Step one for proactive property managers is to recognize that odour prevention isn’t a one-time project. It should be an ongoing process that addresses the entire waste handling system, as well as other common sources of odour: hallways, foyers, fitness centres, party rooms and washrooms.
Typically, odour is a by-product of decomposing organic matter. When living cells die, they attract bacteria that then break down the dead tissue. This natural process produces unpleasant smelling gases as an interim by-product.
Effective systems provide odour control in the air and on surfaces. Three commonly employed approaches include masking agents, bacteria/enzymes or odour neutralization.
Masking agents are scents sprayed in sufficient quantity to temporarily overcome the odour – an approach often employed by non-professionals. The result isn’t lasting since the added scent does not eliminate the odour. Building occupants may dislike the scent and/or react to breathing in a chemically based product.
Alternatively, sprays containing bacteria and enzymes that will ingest and liquefy the waste can be applied to problem areas. This technique typically takes 24 to 48 hours to get results and is also sensitive to heat and humidity factors in the space.
Since the bacteria and enzymes must come in direct contact with the odour source, they don’t work on odorous garbage in enclosed in bags. Masking sprays are sometimes added to the formulation to help boost effectiveness.
These bacteria/enzyme sprays do not sanitize and cannot be used in the presence of sanitizing products. Nor can this approach be used where humans will come in contact with it because the bacteria can affect eyes, mouths or open sores.
Sprays containing natural plant extracts can neutralize odours as the extracts combine with odour molecules and, in the process, eliminate the odour. The environmentally acceptable formula is also safe to handle, which has helped to make odour neutralization increasingly popular for multi-tenant and industrial applications.
Effective systems should target air and surfaces. Simply cleaning with a mop and chemical-based, off-the-shelf products can be costly, time intensive and negatively affect air quality. The professional approach is to use a product that is formulated with:
- degreasing agents that remove fats, oils and decaying organics from the walls of chutes, bins and garbage room floors
- a powerful contact deodorizer that provides long-term odour management
- a sanitizing agent that prevents bacteria growth and eliminates pest nesting areas
The product should be applied with a foaming applicator on garbage room floors, compactors and waste bins, or a spray applicator in trash chutes. The garbage chute should also be power-washed once or twice a year.
Build-up of grease, fat and bacteria can cause persistent odour problems, fire hazards from accumulated fat/grease, plus pest attraction and associated health hazards. Independent testing has detected that at least 30 types of bacterial growth – including salmonella, legionella, listeria, aeromonas, hydrophilia, clostridium perfringens – can occur in garbage chutes.
Thea Saarimaki is a Microbiologist with Ecolo Odour Solutions. For more information, see the web site at www.ecolotoronto.com.
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