Trains full of foul-smelling bio-waste stranded in Alabama town for two months

Waste is making the town smell like 'dead bodies'

The bio-waste has been stranded in Parrish, Alabama (WVTM)

A small rural town in Alabama is currently fighting to have train cars carrying 10 million pounds of waste removed - after it was abandoned there two months ago.

The town of Parrish, home to 982 residents, was never meant to deal with the waste, which smells of dead, rotting animals and is threatening to overwhelm the residents.

Rather, the waste was meant to continue its journey to its final destination of Big Sky Environmental, a private landfill in Adamsville, Alabama.

But, two months ago, when the neighbouring town of West Jefferson filed an injunction against Big Sky in a bid to keep the waste from smelling up their own town, Parrish was left to deal with the matter.

The worst part? The poop, which is technically bio-waste, isn’t even theirs.

The waste actually came from New York and New Jersey, where waste management facilities dispose of the poop by shipping it to Big Sky Environmental.

But unfortunately for the residents of Parrish, their town had no zoning laws to prevent the waste from being dumped on them after Big Sky lost its permit.

Since the waste was stranded, Parrish Mayor Heather Hall has been doing everything she can to remove the waste - which, she told CNN, permeates everything.

The poop has been there for two months (WVTM)

The situation is made worse by the fact that the town of Parrish is only about two square miles - so almost everything is within distance of the stench.

“It greatly reduces the quality of life,” Hall said. “You can’t sit out on your porch. Kids can’t go outside and play, and God help us if it gets hot and this material is still out here.”

According to other residents, who spoke to WVTM, it smells like "dead bodies."

And apart from the smell, Hall is worried about the health effects the waste may have on residents.

Despite assurances from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management that the material isn’t dangerous, as it is Grade A biowaste, Hall and other Parrish homeowners remain concerned.

Hall told CNN: “Other than it smelling absolutely terrible, I have to trust them that it’s not going to hurt you.

“But if you have asthma or COPD or breathing problems, what is that going to do to you? The rail yard is probably less than 50 yards away from homes. What happens if flies get into someone’s house? Is that not a public health issue?”

However, despite speaking to lawyers, it looks like no one knows for sure when the poop will be removed - as Hall understands that filing an injunction against the landfill would only result in a lengthy lawsuit that would further delay the removal.

As for Big Sky Environmental, the company reportedly hasn’t been in touch with Hall for weeks - after originally telling Hall the waste, which is held in 252 tractor-trailers, would be removed from Parrish seven to 10 days after it arrived.

Two months later, the town is still at a loss - but worries are rising alongside temperatures, which will only make the problem worse.

The Independent has contacted Big Sky Environmental for comment.