BUFFLAO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Complaints to Call 4 Action have been mounting for months from residents about a foul odor in a large part of Buffalo’s Lovejoy neighborhood. Now, a city lawmaker is looking for city agencies to review their agreements with the company emitting the odor.
Call 4 Action began reporting on these odor complaints last summer. Residents tell us the odor from Geiter Done of Western New York has returned in recent weeks.
Council Member Bryan Bollman has filed a resolution requesting that the city Department of Public Works review their service contract with Geiter Done. They’re also requesting the Department of Permit and Inspection Services review their agreement with the company and add conditions if necessary.
Geiter Done has a green waste facility on Babcock Street. Two weeks ago, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a Notice of Violation to Geiter Done over the odor issues.
“It’s been an ongoing issue, the quality of life of the residents is of key importance to me and I’m trying to find out exactly how we can balance this issue and bring relief to the residents I represent,” Bollman said.
Geiter Done, through their attorney, responded to the odor complaints saying there is no odor coming from the company and that residents are, “obsessed with harming Geiter Done’s facility.” The company also says the DEC’s testing hasn’t been scientific and that Buffalo Police conducted an inspection and found no odors.
However, residents there strongly disagree and say they’ve been tracking odor complaints.
News 4 has reached out to a city spokesperson for reaction to the council member’s resolution, but we have not heard back. The DEC says it’s still monitoring activity at Geiter Done’s green waste site in Lovejoy.
Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.