DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) — Residents and business owners in Douglas said a strong odor they believe is coming from a nearby Pilgrim’s Protein facility on 290 Protein Way, has become a growing concern in parts of the community.

People living and working near neighborhoods including Touchton Woods and Tanner Plantation say the smell has been noticeable and, at times, difficult to ignore.

Several residents said the odor has affected their daily routines, while some local businesses say customers have also mentioned the smell when visiting the area.

Residents said they have raised concerns about the issue before and want more transparency about what may be causing the odor and whether anything can be done to reduce it.

Some community members said they hope bringing attention to the issue will lead to answers and potential solutions.

One of those residents was John Coffee, who said he had lived in Douglas for 70 years and had operated JMC Tire in Coffee County for more than five decades.

Coffee said the smell could be noticeable depending on weather conditions.

“It smells terrible. If the wind blows in your direction, you’re going to get it,” Coffee said. “We were told when they built it here that we wouldn’t even know they was here. They wouldn’t even smell it.”

Coffee said when humidity was high, the odor could linger across the area.

“If the humidity’s real high, it pushes it to the ground. You smell it everywhere then,” Coffee said.

He also believed the issue could be affecting property values near the plant.

“Well, it went from, like I said, probably my house and my land probably worth $300,000. I’d be lucky to get $50,000 now. Because anybody won’t live in that environment,” Coffee said.

Coffee said he understood the economic role the company played in the community but believed there should still be oversight.

“Pilgrims is probably the biggest employer we have here in the county. But that don’t mean we got to give them the county. They should have some guidelines put on them,” Coffee said.

Nearby business owners said they had also noticed the smell.

Kevin Koeppler, general manager of Sunbelt Greenhouses, said he raised concerns about potential odors before the plant was even built.

Koeppler said local leaders had previously assured him systems would be in place to prevent odors from reaching nearby businesses.

“Before the first shovel was ever stuck in the ground, I had concerns over smell,” Koeppler said.

He said when the wind blew toward his business, the odor could become overwhelming at times.

“The odor at times — and it’s not all the time — but when the wind is blowing this way, we can experience a tremendous odor problem,” Koeppler said.

Koeppler said the smell had also raised concerns about worker conditions.

“I’ve had two employees get sick last year,” he said.

Still, Koeppler said he supported Pilgrim’s presence in the community because of the economic impact it brought.

“I just don’t want the smell. I want pilgrims here. They support our farmers. I’m a farmer. They support our companies in town. They buy our material. They supply a lot of jobs in town,” Koeppler said. “I want pilgrims here. But I want them to fix the dog food plant smell.”

Pilgrim Pride statement

Pilgrim’s provided the following statement regarding concerns about odor:

“We are aware of the concerns raised by some residents in Douglas and take them seriously. The facility is in the process of implementing additional equipment and procedural controls designed to further manage and reduce odor emissions, including upgrading and expanding the plant’s air handling systems.”

Pilgrim’s Douglas used continuous monitoring systems to help regulate and reduce odor-causing compounds. These systems were designed to keep emissions within all applicable state environmental requirements for processing materials at the facility.

The facility holds permits issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, which is also subject to federal oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The company said it remained in communication with local officials and community stakeholders and continued to inform them about infrastructure investments, system improvements, equipment repairs and process optimization.

Pilgrim’s also provided additional information about the rendering process used at the facility.

Rendering is a process that allows unused poultry materials from food production to be safely processed. At the Douglas facility, byproducts are collected, heated and separated into ingredients used in animal feed and pet food.

According to the company, those ingredients provide nutrients for animal diets while also reducing waste and supporting a more sustainable food system.

Read the protein plant’s full statement below:

“We are aware of the concerns raised by some residents in Douglas and take them seriously. The facility is in the process of implementing additional equipment and procedural controls designed to further manage and reduce odor emissions, including upgrading and expanding the plant’s air handling systems.

Pilgrim’s Douglas uses continuous monitoring systems to help regulate and reduce odor‑causing compounds. These systems are designed to keep emissions within all applicable state environmental requirements for processing materials at the facility. The facility holds permits issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, which is also subject to federal oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

We remain in regular communication with local officials and community stakeholders, and continue to keep them informed of our efforts, including new infrastructure investments, system improvements, equipment repairs, and process optimization.

To address the question about the process of rendering, here is some information:

Rendering is a process that allows us to safely and responsibly leverage unused poultry materials from food production. At our Douglas facility, these byproducts are collected, heated, and separated into ingredients used in animal feed and pet food. These ingredients are valuable nutritional components providing essential nutrients to a well-balanced diet. This process also reduces waste and supports a more sustainable food system."

City’s response

WALB reached out to the city of Douglas for a statement regarding the complaints, including questions about the facility’s operations in Douglas and the environmental regulations and guidelines the plant must follow related to odor control and waste processing.

As of now, WALB has not received a response.

This story will be updated once a statement is provided.

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