Saronno launches citizen monitoring program for industrial odors

The municipality of Saronno has launched a formal initiative to monitor and contain persistent odor disturbances reported by residents, particularly in the southern industrial area near the border with Caronno Pertusella.

To address the issue, the local administration has activated the Molf protocol developed by Arpa Lombardia. The program aims to transform subjective complaints into objective data through a structured institutional process. The municipality will appoint a group of citizens, referred to as “sentinels,” who will use a dedicated mobile application to record the timing, duration, and characteristics of odors when they occur.

This technical approach is intended to provide substantiated evidence that can be used to engage with Arpa, provincial authorities, and any identified industrial sources. Officials stated that the process is designed to protect all parties by ensuring that any future regulatory prescriptions are based on documented technical findings rather than spontaneous reports.