Long Island Residents Complain of Unbearable Odor from Calverton Property

Odor Complaints in Calverton

• 😷 Residents in Calverton, Long Island, are experiencing choking odors emanating from a former tree farm.
• 🏠 The smell is so severe that it makes it difficult to breathe, impacting daily life and causing health concerns for children, including one with cystic fibrosis.

Property and Investigation

• 🚚 Trucks have been observed dumping questionable compost onto the 45-acre property, which was sold to the owner of a Nassau recycling plant.
• 🏭 Homeowners suspect the material is more than just organic compost, fearing it could be toxic trash.
• 🚫 Riverhead has issued 11 violations, including a stop-work order, preventing further dumping or processing on the site.

Owner's Defense and Neighboring Impacts

• 🌳 Attorneys for the new owner claim the site is taking in organic materials and intends to plant trees.
• 🔥 They attribute the stench to a fire in June that destroyed a nearby recycling plant.
• 🐄 Animals at a nearby Herring Farm are also suffering from health issues, including runny eyes and noses.

Resident Concerns and Actions

• 💧 Calvertton civic groups are demanding groundwater and air testing due to the pervasive smell and potential health risks.
• 🩸 Some residents report waking up with bloody noses, raising alarms about air quality.
• 🐀 In addition to odors, residents have also complained about a surge in pests and rodents.
• ⚖️ The property owner is due in town justice court on September 9th to answer charges.