A new community approach and vision

As part of our commitment to improving ways to proactively communicate with the community, Sanimax is pleased to send you this first newsletter providing a review of the year 2019 and outlining our priorities as we approach the summer of 2020, including the establishment of the Citizens Committee of RDP-PAT and Sanimax, and our new approach to communicating with the community. We hope you will appreciate this information.

A review of summer 2019 and odour management

Sanimax faced many challenges in the summer of 2019. The chicken processing line, one of Sanimax’ six production lines at its Montreal facility, experienced significant operational difficulties during this period, which impacted the speed of operations and, ultimately, the community. We once again apologize for the inconvenience this situation has caused.

As of summer 2019, Sanimax implemented enhanced maintenance measures and made significant investments to improve the strength and reliability of its production line and to permanently fix the situation.

Other improvements, including the route taken by supply trucks and operating hours, were quickly implemented to minimize impacts. These measures required immediate investments of nearly $2 million in 2019.

Priority actions

Sanimax has been working hard since last Fall to ensure a peaceful cohabitation with its community. Accordingly, Sanimax prioritizes a number of actions to be completed by June 24. Such actions have in fact been presented to the RDP-PAT borough.

Operations :

• Continuous operation (24/7) of the air emission control system, even when the facility is shut down;
• Targeted investments of more than $5.5M on the chicken line to increase its strength and reliability;
• Pilot project involving the installation of odour collection equipment on one of the finished product storage silos;
• Change of filters on all wet process scrubbers;
• Installation of a dust collector inside the facility to improve the efficiency of wet scrubbers;
• Installation, replacement and calibration of all measuring and control instruments on wet scrubbers;
• Automation of the decompression system of the plumage treatment cookers;
• Automation of the industrial press system on the chicken processing line.

Transport :

• Truck entrance from 7th Street;
• Installation of tarps on transport units that were, to date, not covered;
• Installation of an odour abatement system (fog park) around the crossing and waiting areas for trailer trucks in our yard;
• Installation of anti-spill grids on all our trailers;
• Pilot project evaluating the performance of improved tarps;
• Increased truck maintenance (damaged tarps and potential leaks).

These actions all significantly contribute to reducing odours, comply with the highest industry standards, and respond to direct needs expressed by citizens. Moreover, the addition of automation in the facility, as well as artificial intelligence, has improved the performance and stability of operations.

Communication with the community for summer 2020

As we are committed to being proactive in communicating with you, we are introducing a series of measures starting this summer. We are taking a much more proactive, sustained and transparent approach, including the following elements:

• A monthly newsletter;
• A web page specific to the Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles facility and the local community on RDP-PAT.sanimax.com;
• In addition to the monthly newsletter, “flash” newsletters for unusual or ad hoc situations;
• Meetings of the Citizens Committee of RDP-PAT and Sanimax;
• An active presence on social media @Sanimax Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles)

Details of these initiatives will be available shortly.

Thank you for joining us in this collaborative effort; together, for a better summer 2020.