Environmental odour impact assessment of landfill expansion scenarios: Case study of Borgo Montello (Italy)

One of the most reliable methods for the prediction of odour impact from environmental facilities, strongly influenced by topography and local atmospheric dynamics, involves the use of atmospheric dispersion models. The present study focuses on the implementation of a dispersion model for the prediction of odour impact from a large and complex landfill system, localized in Borgo Montello (Latina), in the Lazio Region (Central Italy). The Calpuff dispersion model was selected for the simulations of odour impact, since it is well recognized as the preferred model for assessing the long range transport of pollutants. The odour emission rates, which are the inputs to the dispersion model, were defined on the basis of dynamic olfactometric analyses on air samples taken in the landfills areas. Different scenarios were simulated, with the aim of evaluating the odour impact caused by a project of landfill expansion through height raise. The environmental odour impacts were assessed through the evaluation of the area which would be impacted by odour emissions due to the implementation of the expansion project, in comparison to the actual air quality conditions with no further control measures. This one allowed for quantifying the alteration of the environmental quality state as well as designing the systems and interventions to be implemented to reduce the odour in the impacted area of the surroundings.