Alderman Peter Chico to Address Complaints of Foul Odor Near Pullman Innovations Factory on Torrence Avenue

CHICAGO (WLS) — The South Deering community is demanding answers after what they say has been a decades long public health issue.

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They say the nearby manufacturing facility causes an unbearable odor that keeps families from going outside.

Neighbors say this is a problem that has been ongoing for nearly 50 years.

They say it doesn’t matter who owns this facility, which manufactures vegetable oil.

The odor coming from it still smells like decaying meat.

“It smells like dead fish, smells like dead bodies,” Patricia Carrillo said.

“How would you like to be trapped, trapped in your own home, not being able to open your window for fresh air,” 10th Ward Alderman Peter Chico said.

Chicago says he’s attempted to work with Pullman Innovations on East 100th Street to resolve the odor issue but the complaints are still rolling in.

In 2016, Pullman Innovations acquired the vegetable oil production plant after its predecessor went bankrupt due to a lawsuit for persistent violations of the Illinois Environment Protection Act.

The odor has meant families often wearing face masks or running back inside to escape the smell.

“It’s depressing. You can’t go outside, ride your bike. You can’t play in the pool,” Lili Radocaj said.

Radocaj said she grew up in the area smelling General Mills Coco Puffs, but her kids have had to grow up with the smell of rotting meat.

“We’ve had to leave the playground. Because the kids can’t breathe, the kids start gagging,” she said.

Reported by Block Club Chicago and referenced in an inspection document, in 2022, Pullman Innovations admitted to eight violations, which included seven nuisance charges, resulting in a $12,000 fine.

ABC7 reached out to Pullman Innovations but have not heard back yet.

The Chicago Department of Public Health issued the following statement:

For several years, the CDPH has been actively addressing community issues concerning Pullman Innovations. This effort includes collaborating with the alderman’s office, performing regular and complaint-based inspections, and issuing citations as necessary.

However, CDPH recognizes that prevention is key and has also been working with the facility to determine what new odor-reducing control equipment can be used and with other relevant departments and agencies at the local, state and federal levels.

During inspections and during the permit process, CDPH educates regulated businesses to ensure they understand expectations and make corrections in a timely manner, as appropriate.

Regardless of any prior citations, when CDPH receives a complaint of an alleged violation under any section of the municipal code that we are authorized to enforce, we send an environmental inspector to the site to investigate.

If the inspector arrives on site and witnesses facts to support a new violation under the municipal code, the inspector will issue a citation.

CDPH has issued numerous notices of code violations and has brought many to hearing before the Department of Administrative Hearings.

At a hearing before the Department of Administrative Hearings, CDPH bears the burden of proof that an alleged violation occurred on the date and at the time specified on the notice of violation.”