Next Polyethics Industries public meeting set for July 30

Residents will soon have another chance to air their concerns about a pervasive smell in some Orillia neighbourhoods.

Polyethics Industries, city officials, and representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will hold a public meeting at 3 p.m. on July 30 at the Orillia City Centre to discuss ongoing issues about Polyethics’ production of lavender-scented bags.

For more than a year, residents have complained about a noxious odour emanating from the Forest Avenue manufacturer’s facility, with many saying the smell has prevented them from enjoying their properties, as well as raising health concerns, at the last public meeting in May.

Following that meeting, Polyethics began working with the ministry to put together an abatement plan for the odour, beginning with installing an air make-up unit, with plans to abate the odour over a six-month period.

As the meeting approaches, Mayor Don McIsaac said he is aware “progress has been made,” and he hopes to hear good news at the meeting.

“What I expect is updates from the (ministry) and Polyethics in terms of their progress towards the actions we’d agreed to prior, and hopefully we have some good updates,” he said.

“People are still looking forward to this process and want to get answers to their questions.”

Originally scheduled for earlier this month, the meeting was postponed until the 30th as ministry officials could not make it on the original date.