Complaints about odour (smell) are the most common type of air quality complaint to the Regional Council but this has been decreasing in recent years. Odour can be a problem at any time where activities are not appropriately managed. It is particularly a problem where residential areas are adjacent to industry, food processing plants, composting operations and agriculture. | 
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The region’s guideline for odour is: “There should be no offensive or objectionable odour beyond the boundary of the subject property”.
The Regional Council has worked with a number of industries that have had repeated odour emission problems. This can include ensuring that processing is undertaken properly, that ventilation systems are operating, that offending material is correctly disposed of, or that emissions don’t occur in certain wind or climate conditions.
Management of waste is a common cause of odour, especially if material is stockpiled or not worked properly (such as compost).