East Nashville residents concerned with odor; experts trace it to mulch plant
People living in certain areas of East Nashville are reporting a strong, foul stench that’s been hanging in the air for the last week or so. (PHOTO: FOX 17 News).
People living in certain areas of East Nashville are reporting a strong, foul stench that’s been hanging in the air for the last week or so.
Some are even voicing concerns about air quality and safety. They’ve described it as the smell of burning plastic or garbage, with a chemical odor as well.
As bad as it smells, public health officials tell FOX 17 News it’s not posing a risk to you or your family’s health. Experts with Metro’s Public Health Department say they’ve received 10 to 20 complaints about the odor in the last few weeks, with many of them coming from East Trinity Lane.
They say they’ve traced the smell to a mulch plant on World Baptist Center Dr. : Advanced Energy. They say that plant has been turning the mulch to keep it from combusting, causing steam and odor to escape.
Many residents say they’re confused that this is the first time they’ve ever experienced this type of strong odor.
"I was concerned that something was going on that nobody was paying attention to, and I was worried that the smell could be toxic, especially in an area where it's just hanging there,” East Nashville homeowner Victoria Petrelli said.
Even public health experts say they’ve never heard these types of odor reports coming from this, or any other mulch facility in the Davidson County area.
That’s why they say staff members with the air pollution control division are keeping a close eye on the issue.
"Because of the nature of the description of the odors, they're still canvasing the area to see if there's any other source that might be producing some of the odors that the residents are smelling, but to date, we haven't located anything else,” Metro Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health Director Hugh Atkins said.
Atkins says they haven’t discovered any threats to the public’s health, and this is more of a quality of life issue. That’s why they’re working with the plant to hopefully reduce the odor soon.
Atkins says the mulch plant is not in violation of any codes or rules. FOX 17 News reached out to Advanced Energy with no immediate response.
