Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a company in Bastrop over claims it is unlawfully emitting smelly odors and chemicals from its factory.
Paxton is suing Irving-based Darling Industries and its animal rendering plant following hundreds of complains of odors like dog food, cooked greased, burning feathers, boiling blood, and even death. The lawsuit alleges the factory is also emitting an excessive amount of hydrogen sulfide, a colorless highly toxic gas that smells like rotten egg.
People living as far as ten miles away have complained about the odors, saying they have made life miserable and have interfered with their daily lives.
“Texans should not be forced to endure offensive and harmful odors in their own communities, especially when a company is failing to comply with the standards required by law,” Paxton said.
The lawsuit seeks to hold Darling Industries accountable through civil penalties of up to $1 million, and court-ordered relief for violations of Texas air quality laws.
According to its website, Darling Industries has many “air initiatives” that tackle the odor problem, including odor management procedures and advanced air protection technology.
