AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The state of Michigan is ordering a Metro Detroit landfill to give its neighbors some relief.
The odor emanating from Oakland Heights Landfill got so bad, it's requiring a change to daily business.
Ronald Schroeder's 1954 Plymouth Belvedere is his pride and joy. Rain or shine, snow or sun, he and his friends go outside to polish fenders and trade notes.
But they said the smell of "garbage and rotten food" is becoming too much to take. They said the fumes get so bad their eyes water.
"We leave early if it's strong," Schroeder said. "Everyone will leave early, and it's hurting (business for The Culvers) because we leave."
The landfill was there before The Culvers on Telegraph near The Palace, but complaints about the odor picked up during the last six months.
"Recently, it has gotten worse, yes," said Joe Zimmer, who owns The Culvers and wants to be a good neighbor. But he wants his customers to be comfortable.
"If I had my chioce of not having it here or not, I'd choose not," Zimmer said.
After numerous resident and business complaints, Auburn and Orion city officials called the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, which came out and did its own monitoring. It decided something needed to change.
Oakland Heights' owners installed a new methane-collection system that included drilling four new wells. By all accounts, things have improved markedly in the past week, but a hot summer is coming.
"It's just uncomfortable the dump is here, but it won't last much longer, I don't think," Zimmer said.
Zimmer said the landfill is nearing its natural life expectancy.
Schroeder said there were 15 times last year that he and his friends packed up and left early because of the fumes.
Auburn Hills officials said much of the problem was a warm and wet winter.
The Oakland Heights Development Landfill released the following statement:
"We are committed to being a good neighbor and committed to excellence in landfill management. We take any concern regarding landfill operations seriously. We employ extensive landfill management practices including conducting regular odor inspections.
"We want our neighbors to know that we are working closely with the City of Auburn Hills, as well as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, in addressing the recent concerns.
"We are currently expanding the gas collection system with the addition of six methane gas collection wells. The expansion is expected to be completed by next week. We are also installing an odor neutralizing system along the north east corner of the facility.
"We are confident with both of these operational improvements in place we will successfully reduce the occurrence of odor in the area."