Odor from Milwaukee business stirs up neighbors

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A company that disposes of non-hazardous waste with hazardous material faces off with residents in one Milwaukee neighborhood.

Residents say they are proud of where they live. But they say at times, there is a horrendous smell that emits from Advanced Waste Services. The company appeared before Milwaukee's Standard and Appeal Commission on Thursday, August 15th. Company officials are appealing a requirement from Neighborhood Services that it obtain a different permit.

“I’ve been here 17 plus years. I haven’t had an issue with this. And now I have to get a high occupancy permit which doesn’t seem to make sense to my operation. And also requires vast changes to my facility that I can afford," said Rick Donner, company attorney.

Neighborhood Services says fire code rules have changed and the hazardous material the company uses now requires a higher permit.

"Their maximum allowable quantities exceed what is permitted in the fire code," said Ron Roberts of Neighborhood Services.

A spokeswoman for Alderman Michael Murphy said the hazardous material in question produces negative side effects in the area.

“MillerCoors had to shut down their tour center because of this operation because of the odor. Their employees have gotten ill because of the smell," said Megan O'Connor, Legislative Assistant for Alderman Murphy.

But the board said this wasn't about nuisance -- but the permit -- and voted to stand firm with Neighborhood Services. Officials encouraged Neighborhood Services to work with Advanced Waste Services for an agreeable solution, such as reducing the quantity of hazardous material on the site.