For families living near Pullman Innovations' vegetable oil plant on Chicago's Far South Side, the issue goes well beyond an unpleasant smell. According to city and state officials, the odor has been so intense that children lost recess time and nearby residents felt compelled to remain indoors with their windows shut.
What happened?
Pullman Innovations is being sued by the city and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul over alleged odor and air pollution problems at its facility near 100th Street and Torrence Avenue. The case brings fresh attention to a plant neighbors have reportedly complained about for years, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
State and city officials said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency sent the matter to the attorney general's office. They allege the company "allowed excessive odors, caused illegal air pollution, constructed a boiler without a permit that could cause or contribute to air pollution and violated certain conditions of the operating permit at its Chicago facility."
Complaints about the smell were backed up by city inspectors in 2024. In a fall 2024 report cited by the Sun-Times, inspectors said the entrance to the facility had a "very strong odor that could best be described as rotting fish/decay of flesh" that made them "not want to breathe and made us nauseous."
The facility had already drawn attention during a 2023 Sun-Times investigation, which found that city citations were doing little to deter polluters. According to the report, the company did not provide comment.
Why does it matter?
The alleged odor was disruptive enough to affect both schools and homes, with nearby schools reportedly canceling recess and residents closing their windows and staying inside.
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Officials said the problem extended beyond the smell itself. They also allege the company operated in ways that could contribute to air pollution and did not meet boiler permitting requirements.
Notices went out to roughly 2,400 nearby households about a lawsuit seeking an undetermined cash settlement for residents who have lived near the plant since 2018 over the odor.
What's being done?
The most significant action is the lawsuit itself, which brings together the city and the state attorney general's office following the Illinois EPA referral.
The complaint appears intended to force Pullman Innovations to address the odor issues, comply with environmental laws, and resolve any permit-related violations.
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"Residents in the community surrounding the Pullman Innovations facility should be able to enjoy their lives and homes without having to endure the foul odors coming from the company's operations," Raoul said. "The company needs to address the odor issues and air pollution and ensure that its operations comply with Illinois' environmental laws."
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