From the cover
Bastrop plant responds to ‘foul odor’ complaints
BY JOEL VALLEY
What we know
Community complaints reported to TCEQ Data shows a growing trend in the number of investigation reports filed against Darling Ingredients in Bastrop.
171 *
During an Oct. 8 regular meeting at the TCEQ office in Austin, residents from all over Bastrop County voiced their concerns about alleged “foul odors” emitted by Darling Ingredients. Steven Cutbirth—a member of the Elgin Economic Development Corp. and Elgin Chamber of Commerce boards—was among the many Bastrop County residents who urged TCEQ officials to take action with Darling Ingredients. “It’s actively creating a negative incentive for our local economy,” he said during the meeting. “It’s affecting our local businesses, and it’s inhibiting our ability to thrive economically, which is a problem.” Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer rights advocacy group that was founded in 1971 in Washington, D.C., has worked to make Bastrop County residents’ voices heard. “Too often, community concerns take a back seat to a company’s interests during the permitting process,” Kathryn Guerra, the director of Public Citizen’s TCEQ Watchdog campaign, said in an Oct. 21 news release. “The people of Bastrop County had to take extraordinary steps to be heard. It’s a story that is repeated in communities large and small across Texas, where community
Nearly 500 complaints filed since 2002
138
14 violations issued since 2017
2 ongoing odor investigations as of Sept. 29, 2025
49
46
36
27
12
8
8
8
3
2 1 2 2 2 2
2
2
1 1 1 0
0
* AS OF NOV. 17
SOURCE: TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“Community concerns are important to us, especially when they relate to quality of life,” Darling Ingredients, which employs about 100 people in Bastrop County, said in a statement.
voices are routinely ignored.” Darling Ingredients has since responded by launching a website, www.darlingii.com/bastrop and a dedicated phone number, 512-772-4527, where residents can report their concerns.
The outlook
What they’re saying
Elgin City Council member Joy Casnovsky said she believes Darling Ingredients has not been in compliance with its current permit in years. “It stinks in my community, and Darling needs to do more than tinker with permits to stop the smell,” said Casnovsky, who organized residents to hold a town hall in Elgin in October to express their concerns. Others, including State Rep. Stan Gerdes, also reported they can smell the Bastrop facility from their homes at times. “We’re looking into involving the [attorney general’s] office, and preparing legislation to stop the stink,” Gerdes, a Smithville resident, said in a Sept. 29 statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. Following their complaints and those from other Bastrop County residents, Darling Ingre- dients officials—who told Community Impact that the company works with TCEQ and other regulators to ensure full compliance—met with Gerdes, Bastrop Mayor Ishmael Harris and other local officials on Oct. 2.
Fleming said officials will share updates about facility improvement projects—both ongoing and completed—aimed at curbing the odors emitted from the plant.
“We believe our health, our environment and our right to clean air matter.” CHRISTOPER HEAD, BASTROP COUNTY RESIDENT
Project timelines
Advanced air protection technology Investment: $1.8M; Status: completed
“Darling Ingredients remains committed to being a good neighbor and will continue working closely with local leadership to support the community and foster positive collaboration.” JILLIAN FLEMING, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR DARLING INGREDIENTS
Real-time data technology Investment: $470,000; Status: nearly completed Wastewater treatment system upgrade Investment: $14M-$16M; Status: underway Odor control improvements Investment: $3M-$4M; Status: underway Processing equipment reliability Investment: $1.5M; Status: underway Collaborative odor control program Investment: $300,000; Status: underway
For Harris, the meeting was an “important step” toward resetting the community’s relationship with Darling Ingredients and holding the company accountable.
SOURCE: DARLING INGREDIENTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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