{"id":159211,"date":"2026-02-11T00:51:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T00:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/159211\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T00:51:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T00:51:20","slug":"texas-attorney-general-sues-darling-ingredients-for-bastrop-odors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/159211\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas attorney general sues Darling Ingredients for Bastrop odors"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Darling Ingredients<\/a> for \u201cunlawfully emitting odors and other chemicals\u201d at its Bastrop facility.<\/p>\n

Located between Bastrop County Animal Services and Camp Swift, the facility collects and recycles food industry waste to produce animal feed ingredients, biofuels and other byproducts, according to Darling Ingredients.<\/p>\n

Paxton announced the lawsuit<\/a> in a news release Feb. 9.<\/p>\n

What we know<\/p>\n

Paxton emphasized his desire for Darling Ingredients to be held accountable through \u201csignificant\u201d civil penalties and court-ordered relief for violations of Texas\u2019 air quality laws, and urged Darling Ingredients to take a variety of actions, including:<\/p>\n

Stop spreading odors.Comply with all permit and regulatory requirements.Install real-time hydrogen sulfide monitoring.Implement corrective actions that are overseen by independent experts.\u201cTexans should not be forced to endure offensive and harmful odors in their own communities, especially when a company is failing to comply with the standards required by law,\u201d he said in the news release. \u201cDarling must not sacrifice the quality of life of Texas citizens for its production goals. My office will ensure that violations of Texas law are brought to an end and that the safety and livelihood of surrounding neighborhoods are protected.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Office of the Attorney General reported that odors have been described as smelling like:<\/p>\n

Dog foodCooked greaseBurning feathersBoiling bloodDeathSome background <\/p>\n

Darling Ingredients withdrew an application<\/a> to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality<\/a> to modify its air permit Oct. 21, which TCEQ said would have allowed for increased emissions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe [withdrew the] request after our engineering team identified a way to improve the process that fits within the current permit,\u201d Jillian Fleming, director of global communications for Darling Ingredients, told Community Impact at the time.<\/p>\n

What officials are saying<\/p>\n

Bastrop County, city of Bastrop and Darling Ingredients officials provided Community Impact with statements in the hours following the announcement of the lawsuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cDarling Ingredients has received the petition filed by the Texas Attorney General’s office and will respond through the appropriate legal channels,\u201d Darling Ingredients officials said. \u201cWe are committed to being a good neighbor and protecting the health and safety of our employees and the communities where we operate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Bastrop County is aware of the lawsuit involving the Darling Ingredients facility, the county is not a party to the litigation.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Bastrop County] will continue to refer the matter to the appropriate regulatory agencies while remaining active to community concerns,\u201d Bastrop Judge Gregory Klaus said.<\/p>\n

Like Klaus, Bastrop Mayor Ishmael Harris\u2014who has had several conversations with Darling Ingredients for corrective action\u2014stressed the importance of responding to community concerns<\/a> and told Community Impact he respects Paxton\u2019s role in enforcing environmental laws and holding companies accountable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe company has committed significant resources toward facility improvements and operational changes to address odor issues and compliance,\u201d Harris said. \u201cThe city of Bastrop will continue to advocate for residents, monitor progress closely, and work with regulators to ensure these commitments result in real, lasting improvements for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

What else?<\/p>\n

In 2025, there were seven investigations into the Darling Ingredients facility in Bastrop related to odor, wastewater and stormwater conditions\u2014four of which resulted in documented violations.<\/p>\n

\"chartNo investigations or violations were recorded for 2026, according to TCEQ data.<\/p>\n

Also of note<\/p>\n

In late 2026, Darling Ingredients launched a dedicated phone number, 512-772-4527<\/a>, where residents can report their concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe encourage the local community to visit darlingii.com\/bastrop<\/a> to learn more about our operations and ongoing efforts to address community concerns in the region,\u201d Darling Ingredients, which employs about 100 people in Bastrop County, said in the statement.<\/p>\n

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