What odors are coming from the Darling Ingredients plant in Bastrop?

Residents describe the odors as smelling like "boiling blood," "death," "dog food," "cooked grease," and "burning feathers."

Why is the Texas Attorney General suing Darling Ingredients?

The Attorney General is suing Darling Ingredients because the company's Bastrop plant allegedly emits harmful odors that interfere with residents' health and ability to enjoy their property, violating the Texas Clean Air Act.

What is the state seeking in the lawsuit against Darling Ingredients?

The state is seeking civil penalties that could range from less than $250,000 to over $1 million, and it is asking the company to immediately stop the odors and comply with environmental permits.

Home / Environment / Texas AG Sues Over 'Death' Odors

Texas AG Sues Over 'Death' Odors

10 Feb

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Summary

Texas AG sues Darling Ingredients over foul odors from Bastrop plant.
Residents report smells like 'boiling blood' and 'death,' affecting miles.
Lawsuit seeks millions in penalties and immediate odor control measures.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal action against Darling Ingredients, Inc., an Irving-based company operating a plant in Bastrop. The lawsuit claims that odors emanating from the facility, which processes used cooking oil and animal byproducts, are so severe they are described by local residents as smelling like "boiling blood" and "death."

These offensive smells have reportedly impacted communities as far as 10 miles from the plant. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requested the lawsuit, asserting that the facility's emissions interfere with residents' health and their enjoyment of their property. The state contends that these odors violate the Texas Clean Air Act.

Hundreds of complaints have been lodged with the TCEQ since October. Regulators also suspect the plant may be releasing excessive hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas. The state is seeking civil penalties potentially exceeding $1 million and demanding immediate odor cessation and real-time monitoring equipment installation.