Noise/humming coming from M&M Mars?
I live in the Countryside area, I can (at most times of the day) her a humming noise coming from M&M Mars...anyone else hear it? It's maddening, and it seems to be louder and louder these days. I have a friend who coomplains to them about it periodically, nothing seems to get done about it. I can hear it loud and clear while I'm inside of my house.
Anyone have any luck with them in the past?
tripsy You live next to a factory. What do you expect?? Should they shut down production for you???
sunflower 2 It's like moving next to an airport and asking them to please quiet it down.
You knew what you were getting into when you move next to a massive factory.
I'm not saying anything, this could turn ugly fast. I'll just get some early morning popcorn going. Sigh.....
Calico696 Note to self: Don't move next to factory or large production companies...noise is unacceptable.
MBAFR
THE MAN is that what that noise is, i live a good distance away and hear the same thing almost every night, i alway that it was the train, or a car parked outside my house, a very old car with a crappy engine!
deadhead If the humming does come from them it is ok because they make up for it with the chocolate smell that fills the air.
youngnfresh I believe it's the humming of the oompa loompas while they work making the M&Ms.
I also was with Deadhead in thinking it was the train station. I only hear it at night. The sound comes from the train station direction although I live closer to M&M's.
I lived almost as close as you can to M&M's for three years at Countryside. There was never an overly annoying level of sound from the factory. I think you might have to adapt. Is it possible you are overly aware of this sound because you moved from a very quiet location?
Ryan(ligitty) Depends on the humm.
If it's like mechanical, like gears, then you might want to check noise statutues, and you can either use them, work to enact them or live with it.
If it's electronic in nature, like a turbine or transformer, you might want to get an EMF meter or JohnK to check out your "fear cage" environment as well as those of use who believe that high EMF can cause lukemia. Probaby $50-$100 for an EMF meter or borrow one.
It it's musical, like humming a song, then its oompa loompa's and, trust me, you don't want to mess with those little fellas.
mistergoogle Curious. Besides the sponsorship of a Little League baseball team (yellow hats I think) and the Easter Egg Hunt how has the M and M Company made a connection with the community ? You would think that some type of self local/regional promotion on their part would be good for business and Htown. After all thse years there could have been a retail store in downtown or a sponsorship of a Centenary College theatre program , etc...
BobR. Earplugs work wonders.
Or you could go to the factory and tell them to SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
You coomplains, they leave town taxes go up you feel better now go back where you came from.
sockmania BobR.
Read up on M&M Mars first and what they do in Hackettstown all makes sense in the style the family runs the business. They are just shy so please let them be in that shy neighbors can be good neighbors even if they hum a bit.
"You coomplains, they leave town taxes go up you feel better now go back where you came from."
Awesome sentence right thurrrrrrrr.
Really? Well maybe I need to do something about the cars that pass my house at night...sometimes they wake me up. Maybe they can shut the road down while I sleep.
Do we have to complain about EVERY single thing? It's a factory things need to be done. Turn some white noise on in your apartment. However, like others have stated it may be the train...the train just sits overnight at the Hackettstown train station.
Nosila Sunflower 2:
I absolutely agree with you
It’s like the hackettstown community that lives in direct proximity of Centenary College. The residents are constantly complaining about cars parked on their street and noise coming from the College.
Listen...Centenary College was established in 1910; I don't think anyone in Hackettstown is 101 years old! Hence you chose to move next to a college....don't cry because there are cars parked outside your house, or noise coming from the dorms late at night. That college is a major provider for the local business in hackettstown, like M&M Mars. It probably sucks, but if its so bad then move...
TFulp Ok first, what does M&M's do to connect to the community? They make delicious little bits of candy. Need I say more? LOL Oh and just when the stink from the tar on the RR tracks gets up there, they fill the air with the pleasant aroma of chocolate and peanuts. They don't need to do much more than that IMO. LOL
Oh and on the noise thing, I lived on Liberty St and I used to hear a loud hum at night. And yes it was the train parked at the station. After a while you learn to ignore it. The train went right behind my house every night until, I think it was midnight. At first it was obnoxious, but we got used to it. One other point on this, you might want to check how that area is zoned. If you live in an industrial or commercial area, then I think you might be screwed as far as a complaint goes. Especially if your're the only one comlaining.
SeeintheReality I lived in towpath for 2 1/2 years never had a problem with noise and boy did i love waking up to that smell !!
shoebie Seems to me that tripsy was just asking a question, to see if anyone else noticed what was going on at Mars. I am more and more saddened by the unkind responses to questions that appear on here. It is really astonishing to me how a poster can bring up such venom so quickly, type it, send it and go on their merry way. Does it make anyone feel so good about themselves to be so MEAN to other people?? I just don't get it.
LVMomOfBoys Wow I think the big meanies are on the other threads right now. I hear you though LvMom . I do think it is the train though. The only noises associated with M&M's was the banging when they did that solar project.
I don't hear a humming, but a banging noise early morning- like train cars or something.
I agree with LV Mom. WOW nasty
Ranger Joe I laughed so hard I almost spit my water..Right Thurrrr
Mich Hey try living on Moore Street near the fire station --- you spend 1 week getting jolted by the Alarm, then you sleep like a baby --- all of my kids never had a problem --- me thinks it might be other things keeping you up at night. Usually you get used to noises and eventually tune them out --- it's human nature....
trekster3 having lived in the Hackettstown area all my life...i can tell you that M&M Mars...does not have any oompa loompas...just many hard working employees...they spend plenty of money on the local economy...just from their payroll... and using local contractors in their factory...as far as civic contributions...they were asked to help out with a local chocolate festival...and opted not to get involved... The Hershey Chocolate company was asked to help and happily filled the void that Mars...wanted nothing to do with at the chocolate festival...and dont forget that Mars...hosts the Memorial Day car show...
oldman I only meant in a civic minded way;of course M and M is a company to be proud of in town. The kind of shy inward thinking is what I was trying to gently touch upon. Many locals over the years have brought up this type of conversation. cCvic type involvement can be very beneficial to communities and not neccessarily costly.
Oldman:
Don't they pitch in for Spring Fest too, or did they not used to? I got many Snicker there, and I mean the candy kind....:>)
No oompa loompa's you say.... Yeah, right. That's like saying Dunkin Donuts doesn't have munchkins.
You have to be there at 3am; that's when they come out. You can see them walking over to DD to hang with the munchkins, drink coffee and swap Skittles for Boston Kremes. Trust me, go tonight.....
Sunflower-I don't live NEXT to a factory, I live in the same town...I was just asking if others noticed it had gotten louder lately, and I'm not the only one who hears it. Wow, you must be a fun person to know.
MBAFR-"note to self", now that's classic and original.
THE MAN-I have a day job, have children plus I work weekends (so I'm not in the house all day if that's what yu're thinking). But I do spend at least a few hours a day at home and I hear the noise inside or out.
TFULP-who brought up Centenary??
Nosila-it's not the train, I don't live in the apartments, and saying you live near a street with noisy cars is hardly comparing apples to apples...I did not know the noise was going to be this maddening for me when I moved in, it's not like I live right next door to it and thought to move elsewhere. I thought you were the one who started a thread about not bashing someone...hmph, maybe you should take your own advice.
Trekster-I have very good hearing, hear at 0 decibels, and often times I like more noise to block out the maddening noises (like drips, fans rattling, etc.), but this humming just keeps going endlessly and I have for 3+ years now trying to block it out or get used to it. I've always lived in areas that had noise from trains, cars and such, the humming just doesn't seem necessary.
I have several neighbors that have complained at one point or another...one doesn't even open her windows during the warmer months (sadly), and she has lived here since the development was built and she says it's gotten much louder in the past few years. Maybe it's our house location, the noise has a clear path to this area? Not sure, but I was ONLY asking a question, not complaining or whining. I thought this was a place for inquiries too, maybe I was wrong.
Thank you to those of you who had actual replies, I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
mona Thanks Mona, I don't think it can be fixed (although my neighbor did get them to admit at one point that something had broken and they managed to lower it for a few days, the noise went back up eventually), but thank you!!
I live across the street from M&Mars, I've NEVER heard any humming. Heard all the dumptrucks and ruckus when they were building their solar panel acres right next door though. That was a rough summer, dumptrucks up and down the road starting at 7am!
I've heard of cases where the pitch is a particular frequency that only some people hear it. I know as a kid in a particular store I heard and really nerve bending noise that no one else did. That noise really *hurt*.
If they admitted something in the past, keep trying. Find out who the neighbor talked to with success and try that.
GC So wait, I wanna know where I stand in that post. If you didn't mention my name does that mean you found my post to be ok? ;o)
I know this may be obvious, but are you anywhere near high tension wires? Sometimes they give off a hum if you're close enough.
3wbdwnj Seein-Yes, I thought your post gave suggestions and didn't bash, and even one of the posters I replied to hadn't bashed...just the other ridiculous posters who have to give their smarta$$ comments didn't need to be there. I really was just wondering if what I was hearing was correct and had anyone ever had any luck getting it reduced.
i think sometimes i hear the HVAC units from the hospital... do you think it could be the HVAC units at mars?
i have worked for a private contractor inside the Mars plant...that place was clean as a whistle...and i have done private contract work for members of the Mars family...they pay their bills...on time...and i would never call any Mars worker an oompa loompa...many workers there have spent the best years of their lives working at that facility...i was once hired there but declined the job...and went to work for another firm...
"i would never call any Mars worker an oompa loompa..." oldman
It was a joke. And a funny one at that.
tripsy- I wasn't bashing you....just saying it's hard to tell a factory that has been there forever to keep it down....
I used to live in Towpath and I also never heard the noise...However I used to live all the way in Victoria Village and if I went outside at night I could actually hear the train sitting there.
Hmm, is everyone as b**chy in real life or just empowered by the forum. Tripsy asked a rather simple question -- if you don't like the question move on to the next post.
ERM ERM- It's not that the OP said " Does anyone else hear that humming noise that comes from M and M"
" I have a friend who coomplains to them about it periodically, nothing seems to get done about it. I can hear it loud and clear while I'm inside of my house.
Anyone have any luck with them in the past?"
So it's safe to assume the OP is not happy with the noise and wants to know if any one has had any luck with them in the past....so wanting to know if complaining to them about the noise would do anything.Unless I read the original post wrong that's how I took it
I live on 7th st and have for about 10 years now. I will agree with Tripsy, since Mars did the renovations last year the noise level has increased. I don't know if they installed a larger refrigeration unit on the roof or larger heat exchanger, but I hear what sounds like the low rumble of a commercial jet. It's not vibrating my mattress acoss the floor but on a quiet night with my front windows open it is noticable. I haven't tried calling and complaining to anyone, but as summer approaches and the windows start opening- I can only hope the leaves on the trees absorb some of the noise.
I don't see any need for negativity on this thread. Up until last year, Mars was always a quiet and considerate neighbor...
i agree ERM. everyone on here jumps down just about everyones throats which is why i rarely to never actually even look at this site. everyone gets mighty brave sitting behind a computer and it always seems to be the same people who are continually nasty. seemed like an innocent question but right from the bat a nasty response is posted. bravo.
Nosila, yes she/he is upset about the noise and wants to know if anyone has had any luck about complaining to M&M/Town, etc. What is the harm in asking the question? I really don't understand why the immediate responses were so b**tchy - in essence 'shut up you live near a factory what do you want'. This is a public forum and there is no harm in asking questions especially when the tone of the post is respectful.
For the people complaining about noises just wear earplugs to bed or whatever lol just think its worse in nyc and other places with horns honking,all sorts of noises
nj2011 I have not heard this hum but is really worse than if you had an A/C running in your room or a fan on? If it is a steady hum wouldn't it just be white noise?
jrsemom Thank you ERM!
nj2011-yeah, I want to wear earplugs 24/7, I don't just hear it at night..and the old "just think it could be worse" line, not asking what's worse, I was simply asking if others could hear the same and wondered if anyone had ever contacted Mars and gotten any results. Really don't need a comment about what could be worse, we should all just ignore something that may (or may not) be bothersome because there's always something worse. Every thread would be solved with that line!
Nosila-your post did come across snotty "Really?" does seem a little excessive to me.
Sunflower-I did not say "keep it down" that was another poster. But, I do think businesses and residents should do their best to be considerate to others. If something has changed then I think the people who live here have a right to know, they shouldn't "have" to live with it. That's the beauty of a democracy, you have the right to choose.
*I know there's others in the world that have certain sounds that drive them crazy (fingernails on the chalkboard, dripping water, tapping fingers, metal scraping, styrofoam, etc.) and the humming happens to be one of those sounds to me. On my next day off I might just call Mars to see if, indeed, the sound is coming from their plant. I should have gone to the source instead of expecting helpful-only responses here. Thank you to those of you who intended to help!! I will let you know what I find out!
My guess would be that solar power farm they put in - could be the inverters they are using or since solar power is an intermittent power source the method they are storing the power.
I live about about a 1/2 mile from the farm on the other side of the tracks & have heard nothing but you may be downwind from it.
BABYBULL24 For anyone who wants to go outside right now. Its humming. I am at least 5 miles away and hear it. Solar panel theory is strong. Good thought
Steve-0 "everyone gets mighty brave sitting behind a computer and it always seems to be the same people who are continually nasty." Really laughin? I think you should read some of the other threads on here and maybe you'll see who are the brave ones sitting behind a computer and who are the ones that have actually met face to face. Im not saying you have to meet to be able to post. That comment comes up all the time, but then the poster inserts foot in mouth after realizing most on here actually meet up and don't just hide behind a computer.
Hey Oldman,
Get some humor! I was not calling any Mars employee an Oompa Loompa. I said that Oompa Loompas worked there. It was a JOKE! I've known people who have worked there my entire life so I KNOW there are REALLY NO Oompa Loompas. It was a JOKE!
Except for the oompa loompa's, I was serious about mitigation: law, etc.
Also, remember that MARS could deploy noise cancelling like the headphones or some cars are using.
BUT --- if it is solar, and it is a transformer hum --- see my post above re EMF. I am old, EMF does not matter to me except for the ghosts, but I would not expose growing kids to it because of health. High tension wire hum does not emit EMF usually since the power is just passing through; it's when you covert power like in a turbine, a transformer, a capaciter, etc. Even those transformers hanging from the telephone poles called "cans" cuz they look like them emit a good amount.
Remember how Mommie said sit three feet in front of the TV, she was right. What she didn't tell you was six feet from the back!!! The good new is that EMF is sort of a logrithmic function for safety so 1ft away is 10 times safer and 10 feet away might be 1,000 times safer (or safe). So, hearing it does not mean you are getting hit by it. For example, hair dryers at 1200W -- OK. Electric shavers on your chin --- bad. Thank goodness they are small......
John K --- want to voice in on the personal effects of EMF?
If the hum is electronic, get a tester for peace of mind. Many a "good neighbor" has been purported, not proved, to create a lukemia hot spot through EMF transmissions (IMHO and no real statistics to support this). PS -- high tension wire hum does not do it, but those nifty green boxes on the ground ---- maybe. Those cyclon fenced areas that look like a Frankenstein lab, high EMF.
Do oompa loompas really exist? Wow, I always thought they didn't.
In that case, (in best English accent) "I want an oompa loompa NOW!!!!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9obgyYB1IU
Tracy Mbafr-why? If you're not going to give a serious answer then don't bother to answer, I wasn't asking for a lecture on living near noisy factories, I honestly just asked if others heard the same and if they had ever pursued it...maybe a little btdt would have helped. Your response wasn't helpful so why did you answer? Kind of juvenile!
Denis MBAFR: I didn't see anything wrong with tripsy's post. She asked a question. All it took was a respectful answer. But the HL nasties took the ball and ran with it. There's way too much anger around here at times. I don't get it.
cbel 
thoughtful 
Firefly Firefly "the hackettwtown forumn clique" are all the nice posters on this site. Does that bother you?
bone Bone - No, they'll just open a new plant in Kansas - http://kansasreporter.org/75349.aspx Sigh...would have been nice if they could have opened a new plant in this area. Lot's of jobs and opportunities that would have helped this area...
bone...great Idea...think of the loss to the local economy...if Mars closes down in Hackettstown...they hire local contractors...and offer a very good wage and benefits program to their associates...M&M Mars has been a member of the fabric of this community since 1954...if you live near a factory expect to hear some noise...thats the way they do business
Um, Ok oldman, they just automatically go hand-in-hand huh? It just seems like it's gotten louder over the years. But if it doesn't bother YOU then I guess it shouldn't bother anyone. BTW, who said they were closing?
I lived near the Mars plant for years...its better now than ever...that plant used to give off noxious odors that would burn your eyes...I never said they were closing...but if they move manufacturing some where else lots of jobs would be lost
Unfortunately if the plant in Kansas gets final approval and goes into production by 2013, we can start looking at this one starting to decrease productivity and/or shut down.
By reading the article it looks like this process is far from complete, take a look at all of the $$$ Mars is looking to avoid paying when building the plant. Can/Would Hackettstown make the same offers? There's still time for Christie to step in and help out too.
If they have a more efficient and cost effective plant in Kansas, why would they keep this one open? We should be overall thankful it's not getting moved to Mexico, like Hershey did, but it would be a huge loss to Hackettstown.
I would anticipate that long-time workers would be offered a job in Kansas before they hire from locals there. Would you take the offer? I would consider it, depending on lots of factors.
Just playing devils advocate and taking a look at historically what companies have done in the past. Basically screw their loyal folks and go for where they can make the best buck.
Mars has always been very pragmatic, but also treated their people with a good measure of loyalty, mostly by staying private and not having an outside board of investors/stockholders dictate what the company does. They could make TONS of money by going public, but have grown slow and steady over the years and keeping a tight reign on it's operations.
Trekster3 - I respectifully disagree that the opening of the Kansas facility means that the Hackettstown facility is going to close. Mars can't keep up with the demand for their product in the US and thus needs more production space. The Hackettstown facility only produces M&M's. The Kansas facility will produce M&M's and fill bars, (Snickers, Milky Ways, Twix, ect.). Having a plant facility alongside their national office helps the company run the business, which in Mars' case is all about quality. I think the key to the Hackettstown location is to see if they renovate and expand their R&D facility. While it's too bad that Mars is not expanding or building a new facility in this area I think it's great that Mars is willing to open a new production plant in the US. But I also think it is part of a trend - many companies, (although not enough) are beginning to bring back overseas production facilities. In China the work force is becoming more expensive and they are not as productive. It won't happen overnight but hopefully it will continue.
I really wish they'd open a retail outlet here in town where you could buy bulk products at a discount. Do you know how expensive custom colored M & M's are to buy online? Even just to buy regular colored ones in bulk is ridiculous.
BLD - for the Hackettstown's sake I hope you're right!
Tracy - I'd love to see a factory tour and a retail shop combo thing, that would be great!
Who knows what they're really doing, but I'd love to see the combo of BLD and Tracy's thoughts - Make Hackettstown the R&D and remodel the factory so that they can do tours and have a retail spot!! That would be an ideal world!!
ummmm.... just heard from a friend, that their DIL was offered a raise/promotion by Mars........... for a job in Kansas.....
Kansas facility. maybe they are going to close there over seas operations and bring work back to this country
crossing fingers be hind back
Caged Animal Mars has made it quite clear over the years that they have no interest...in tours of the local plant...or making Hackettstown a Mars Mecca...they even deferred requests to join in a local chocolate festival...Hersheys chocolate company gladly helped out when they were informed of Mars disdain...for the chocolate festival...thats not to disrespect Mars but its the truth
I was actually lucky enough to get a tour of the plant about 15 years ago when I did some IT consulting for their QA department. One of the more interesting areas was what they called "The Swamp" where they made Peanut M&Ms.
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