Dog food production in Bad Hersfeld: report relieves residents!

Dog food production in Bad Hersfeld: report relieves residents!

A new chapter in the production of dog food has opened in the Bad Hersfeld industrial area, once home to a US barracks. The opening of the new “Balf” factory, known for its organic, species-appropriate and air-dried production, took place in spring 2024. The focus is particularly on using predominantly local products, which not only ensure the quality of the snacks but also support regional farmers. But not everyone is happy about the settlement. Residents loudly express their dissatisfaction and find out about the associated odor nuisance.

The operator of the system, Tanja Ehret, can, however, look forward to a positive development: a judicial report, prepared by the Agricultural Investigation and Research Institute LUFA in Oldenburg, impressively certifies that the legally required odor levels in Bad Hersfeld are significantly below. How East Hesse News reported that operations ran smoothly during the investigation period. A heat exchanger contributed significantly to reducing odor pollution, so that no odor intensity was detected even in the external vicinity of the system during the measurements.

Technical specifications and expert confirmations

The odor pollution in the area around the Balf facility is less than 10 percent of the maximum possible annual hours. The limit of 25 percent for neighboring commercial uses was also not exceeded. This meets the requirements according to the Appendix 7 of TA Luft, which regulates the procedures for determining and evaluating odor emissions. These specifications were created to ensure comprehensive protection against odor nuisances and to take into account both the previous pollution and the additional pollution caused by new systems.

The city of Bad Hersfeld has now been able to give the all-clear: no complaints have been recorded since production started. This result is certainly a reason to be happy, not only for the operator Tanja Ehret, who highly praises her investments in exhaust air technology, but also for the city, which can boast positive news.

Relevance of odor emissions

But what exactly makes smells so problematic for residents? According to the Odor emission guidelines Annoyances caused by odors are considered to be significant and harmful, depending on various factors such as the intensity and quality of the odors and the distribution over time. Scientific findings make it possible to accurately describe and assess the level of harassment. These guidelines are not only important for the authorities in the approval process, but also serve as a control instrument in land-use planning.

With the current positive reports and compliance with all legal requirements, “Balf” production seems to be on a promising path. It remains to be seen how residents will react to the ongoing developments. One thing is certain: there is still room for improvement in the discussion about odors in the built environment - both for the operator and for the concerned residents.