Residents from both sides of Newtown Creek—Blissville in Queens and Greenpoint in Brooklyn—have voiced growing concerns over alleged air pollution from Green Asphalt, a recycling asphalt plant located at 37-98 Railroad Avenue.

Green Asphalt, which opened its Blissville facility in 2011, promotes its use of recycled asphalt as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional asphalt. However, locals say the plant has caused severe quality-of-life issues due to noxious fumes, which many claim have worsened over the years.

In January 2024, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued Green Asphalt a nuisance violation, citing that emissions from the facility “unreasonably interfered with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property.” Residents argue that conditions have deteriorated even further since that violation was issued nearly a year and a half ago, with reports of difficulty breathing and frequent exposure to acrid odors.

Thomas J. Mituzas, a Blissville Civic Association member, said he was forced to temporarily relocate his 96-year-old aunt due to health concerns. “We had the windows closed, and it was still choking us,” Mituzas said, adding that multiple attempts to contact the company have gone unanswered.

Warren Davis, president of the Blissville Civic Association, described the air quality as “suffocating” and said pollution levels vary daily. “First, you get the smell,” he said. “Then, it’s choking. Sometimes it’s heavy, other times lighter.”

Residents report that wind conditions determine which neighborhoods are most affected—some days it’s Blissville, other days Greenpoint.

Willis Elkins, executive director of the Newtown Creek Alliance, described the plant’s emissions as “foul-smelling particulate matter,” noting the issue has progressively worsened. “It smells like burning rubber,” he said.

Despite the 2024 violation, residents claim Green Asphalt has yet to install taller smokestacks meant to disperse emissions more effectively. Community members have raised the issue with elected officials including Assembly Members Claire Valdez and Emily Gallagher, State Senator Mike Gianaris, and City Council Member Julie Won.

In a letter to Won and Gianaris, residents claimed they are being “poisoned” by the plant’s emissions. Several elected officials recently met with DEC representatives to discuss the situation.

Assembly Member Valdez called the air quality crisis “untenable” and said officials are awaiting further data on pollution levels to guide potential solutions. Council Member Won is pushing for stricter enforcement and active air quality testing, while Gallagher’s office expressed frustration that Green Asphalt has not taken sufficient action and is reviewing remediation options.

Carlos Castell Croke, chair of Community Board 2’s Environmental Committee, also sent a letter to DEC after experiencing the smell firsthand while biking over the Kosciuszko Bridge. “It’s definitely not pleasant,” he said. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to live with that every day.”

In a statement, Green Asphalt said it has remained compliant with DEC air quality standards since its initial permit in 2017 and is addressing complaints linked to the January 2024 violation. The company emphasized its commitment to resolving community concerns and highlighted its environmental contributions—namely, using recycled asphalt and eliminating the need for 2,600 truck trips annually on city roads.

Company sources acknowledged they are working on raising the height of the plant’s smokestacks, but described the effort as complex and unlikely to be completed in the first half of 2025 as originally planned.

While many residents recognize the environmental benefits of using recycled asphalt, they say those advantages should not come at the expense of their health.

“I don’t want them to shut down,” Castell Croke said. “What they do is important—but the burden on the local community is just not fair.”