Smelly Days Continue at Recycling Plant

Residents living near the wastewater recycling plant at the Attleboro Corporate Campus on Pleasant Street say the offensive odor has weakened, but the stink is still in the air.

The status of NewStream LLC's plant was discussed at a meeting Monday afternoon at City Hall. About 10 residents, five city councilors (including host Jay DiLisio) and City Health Officer Dr. Christopher Quinn were in attendance.

"It's definitely not as pungent, but it's still there," said one resident of the odor that has been described as smelling like dirty diapers, sour milk and other unpleasant items.

Company President Michael Spoor said that since  about the odor, the company has begun working on a variety of measures, including hiring the firm Capaccio Environmental Engineering to advise on what actions need to be taken. He said he was disappointed to hear the situation had not greatly improved.

"I was hopeful that I was going to hear that things were quite a bit better today because ... the people who visit our plant tell us that," Spoor said. "So it's disappointing to me to hear that that's not the case … I'm concerned about your assessment and we clearly have to get our arms around that."

Spoor said he believes the matter can be cleared up within four weeks as the company follows the advice of Capaccio.

At last month's meeting, city Health Department officials said NewStream would be given an official document called a consent order that would list what actions needed to be taken to eliminate the odor. Officials from the city and the company would sign the order. Quinn said after this week's meeting that the city officials "had decided not to use that avenue."

Jeremy Denlea, one of the city councilors who attended the meeting, told Attleboro-Seekonk Patch, "While a consent order is still on the table, we are not pursuing one presently.  Our decision to pursue a consent order in the future will depend on the success of NewStream's efforts at quashing the odor."

Also still possible, Quinn said, is for a public hearing to take place that could lead to the plant being shut down. NewStream officials were warned at last month's meeting that Massachusetts law allows the city to call a hearing about the possibility of closing the plant.