![\"Compost](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/RZE5UD6T55C6RPRABZET4FVSZM.jpg\")
Part of the Department of Sanitation’s Staten Island compost facility is shown Thursday, June 12, 2025.(Advance\/SILive.com|Paul Liotta)<\/p>\nSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 Residents and an elected official are seeking answers after enduring a year\u2019s worth of foul odor in the Travis section of Staten Island. <\/p>\n
Councilmember David Carr is imploring Acting Commissioner Javier Lojan of the city Department of Sanitation for a solution to the stinky crisis, thought to be coming from Staten Island\u2019s composting facility. <\/p>\n
\u201cRecently, it was brought to my attention by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that they have reached the conclusion that this facility is the most likely source of this foul odor that has been permeating the area on a recurring basis for the last year or so,\u201d Carr wrote. <\/p>\n
\u201cHaving finally been given confirmation as to its source, it is imperative that DSNY address this matter as soon as possible,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In a comment to the Advance\/SILive.com, a DSNY spokesperson listed the ways the department is looking to curb the funky smells, including: a scented mist at DSNY operations; a special covered composting system; turning compost at 5 a.m.; and regular odor assessments in neighborhoods surrounding the facility.<\/p>\n
Part of the Department of Sanitation’s Staten Island compost facility is shown Thursday, June 12, 2025.(Advance\/SILive.com|Paul Liotta)<\/p>\n
But, according to residents, the odor mitigation has not been wholly effective \u2014 even causing them to return to their homes early on smellier days. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe odor is most prevalent in the mornings, but it is sometimes in the afternoon as well; it is definitely not a pleasant odor,\u201d Mary Lu Hayes, a nearby resident, said. \u201cIt\u2019s not every day, but it is frequent. The nice weather is worse.\u201d <\/p>\n
For Paul Dietrich, who has lived in the borough for five decades, the smell is concerning for another reason. <\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026my concern [is] in the area [is] you got a brand-new school and that\u2019s in the smell area,\u201d Dietrich explained. <\/p>\n
The new school, Staten Island Rise Academy<\/a>, also known as PS 89, is a District 75 school that opened in Travis, co-located with PS\/I.S. 26 \u2014 at the original PS 26 building and the brand-new constructed building located just 1,000 feet away. It opened in September<\/a>.<\/p>\n To Dietrich, the smell is more \u201cacrid\u201d than that of the former Fresh Kills Landfill and can be whiffed on both sides of the West Shore Expressway \u2014 though he reckons the west side is more potent. <\/p>\n \u201cEither way, we will continue to investigate the conditions in the area and do anything possible to mitigate the natural odors associated with this important recycling program,\u201d the DSNY spokesperson told the Advance\/SILive.com.<\/p>\n How to reach out I want to hear from all of you about the things that don\u2019t make national headlines, but are of utmost importance to Staten Islanders.<\/p>\n![\"fyisi\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FQBA7XUQNNDONBKB42W527QY4M.jpg\")
“As a born-and-raised Staten Islander, I know the issues that plague borough residents, whether it be torn-up sidewalks or unplowed streets,” said Reporter Jillian Delaney.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE<\/p>\n