Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action against Darling Ingredients, Inc., claiming that the company’s facility in Bastrop emits noxious odors that residents describe as reminiscent of “boiling blood” and “death.” These unpleasant smells are reportedly affecting the quality of life for individuals living up to ten miles away from the plant.
Filed on Monday, the lawsuit targets the Irving-based company, which processes used cooking oil, food waste, and inedible animal parts into animal feed and fertilizer. Residents have complained about the odors, likening them to dog food, burnt grease, and scorched feathers.
The attorney general’s office asserts that these emissions pose health risks and detract from residents’ enjoyment of their property. The lawsuit claims that the odors emanating from the rendering plant violate state air quality regulations.
Jillian Fleming, global communications director for Darling, expressed the company’s commitment to being a responsible community member and ensuring the health and safety of both employees and local residents. She directed individuals to a website where they can find information about the company’s efforts to address community concerns.
Darling’s Bastrop facility specializes in processing poultry byproducts, including raw chicken, blood, and feathers, along with used grease. The state maintains that these operations are responsible for persistent odor issues that contravene state air quality laws.
The lawsuit was initiated at the request of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and aims to enforce the Texas Clean Air Act, which categorizes strong odors as air pollutants when they impact public health and living conditions.
Since October, TCEQ has received hundreds of complaints from residents regarding the odors. One resident described the smell as akin to “festering dog vomit on fire,” expressing a preference for the scent of burning tires over the plant’s emissions.
Regulators suspect that the facility may be discharging excessive amounts of hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic gas notorious for its rotten egg odor. TCEQ has recorded several environmental violations and previously instructed Darling to implement odor control measures, which the lawsuit claims the company has neglected to do.
The state also alleges that Darling has failed to properly maintain its equipment and keep necessary records.
“Texans should not have to endure offensive and harmful odors in their communities, particularly when a company is not complying with legal standards,” Paxton stated in a press release. “Darling must not compromise the quality of life for Texas citizens for its production objectives.” He emphasized that his office will take action to ensure compliance with Texas laws and protect the well-being of neighboring communities.
The state is pursuing civil penalties that may range from under $250,000 to over $1 million. Additionally, the lawsuit calls for the company to rectify the issues by eliminating the odors immediately, adhering to all environmental regulations, and installing real-time monitoring for hydrogen sulfide emissions.
