Nearly a year ago, the Diamond Pet Foods plant in Ripon got the OK to add a fourth production line.

Part of the conditions of getting the final Environmental Impact Report certification for the expansion project was providing the City of Ripon with monthly reports, ensuring that the odor abatement equipment was “operating at near pristine levels,” according to Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart.

Odor from the plant at 942 S. Stockton Ave. – the producer of kibbles of pet food per day –was a big concern from the nearby neighbors in the past prior to updating the facility with state-of-the-art technology.

The Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers installed in recent years proved to be the best solution in reducing the organic compound emissions.

At the Ripon City Council meeting on March 8, Zuidervaart said that with the installation of both the new odor abatement equipment and the opening of that fourth production line was without any complaints for several months.

He added that the one received (last September) was unconfirmed.

Council members Daniel de Graaf and Gary Barton live near the facility. Both indicated a “feint smell” on occasions.

“I think it’s generally the sewer pond, which (the smell) could be confused for the (Diamond Pet Food) plant,” de Graaf said.

The expansion has allowed Diamon Pet Foods to increase productivity, going from 780 tons of kibble per day to 1,040 tons per day – an increase of 260 tons per day – according to the Planning Commission report from April 2021.

“This is a monthly report (on the odor abatement equipment) we receive from Diamond,” said Zuidervaart, who will continue to provide updates to elected leaders.