Dive Brief:

• Waste Connections has entered into a national purchasing agreement with Odor-No-More, a subsidiary of BioLargo, Inc., to use the company's CupriDyne Clean products. 
• The agreement gives Waste Connections a discounted pricing plan for the odor mitigation products, which are said to break down volatile organic compounds rather than just disguise the odor with a different scent.
• The international waste company could use these products at any of its 135 collection operations, 54 transfer stations, 44 landfills or 39 recycling facilities.

Dive Insight:

While financial details weren't disclosed this is a sizable deal for Odor-No-More, which also makes products for households, horse farms and other industrial facilities. Their website notes membership in the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), and details the potential applications at various waste facilities, indicating they view the industry as an important market.

Like any large landfill operator, Waste Connections is no stranger to dealing with odor concerns. This continues to be a driving factor in local efforts to shut down the company's Seneca Meadows Landfill in New York and odor monitoring was among the recommended conditions for a recent permit extension at their Chiquita Canyon Landfill in California. Odor problems — whether real or perceived — have also played a role in recent regulatory decisions around landfills in Michigan, California and elsewhere.

In some cases these issues can lead to lawsuits or strict regulatory action. This has become even more relevant as new communities look for ways to process their organic waste. Odor concerns at organics facilities have led to lawsuits, shutdowns and proposed site relocations. In addition to technical fixes many say that community engagement is a key part of managing these situations before they get out of control.