Attorney General's News Release

May 6, 2005

Attorney General Nixon obtains court order for RES to make upgrades to curb foul odor from Carthage plant

Attorney General Nixon, left, visits with Carthage City Attorney David Mouten and Mayor Kenneth Johnson after a news conference.

Carthage, Mo. — In a court order obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon, Renewable Environmental Solutions will upgrade the emission-control equipment in its Carthage processing facility and take necessary steps to eliminate odors that residential neighbors said smelled like rotting or burned meat and chlorine.

Nixon announced the agreement and consent order in Carthage today, where he was joined by Mayor Kenneth Johnson and other Carthage officials.

The agreement is in response to a public nuisance lawsuit filed by Nixon and the City of Carthage last month. The suit alleged that the operation of the RES processing facility and associated waste storage and handling facility caused odors that "unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of private and public property."

"Hopefully, this will put an end to a nearly year-long problem that the people of Carthage were forced to endure," Nixon said. "RES has agreed to take whatever measures are necessary to remedy this situation, and we will be watching closely to make sure they do."

RES, a joint venture of Changing World Technologies and Con-Agra Foods, operates a plant at 530 N. Main St. that utilizes a thermal conversion process to convert agricultural and animal wastes to oil, gas, minerals and fertilizer. Much of the waste comes from Con-Agra's turkey processing facility in Carthage.

Under the agreement and consent order filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court, RES agrees to install an enhanced thermal oxidizer and will upgrade to a higher efficiency scrubber on its emission-control system. In addition, the company will take extra measures to control odors when handling the raw materials used in the process.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is working with RES to expedite the upgrades. The company will begin installation of the thermal oxidizer no later than May 9 and will complete installation within 13 days.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to the Press Secretary.

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