Attorney General Raoul, City of Chicago Sue Pullman Innovations Over Air Pollution and Excessive Odors

CHICAGO — Today, Attorney General Kwame Raoul was joined by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago in filing a lawsuit against A-F Acquisition LLC, which operates under the name Pullman Innovations, alleging that the company allowed excessive odors, caused illegal air pollution, constructed a boiler without a permit that could cause or contribute to air pollution, and violated certain conditions of the operating permit at its Chicago facility.

Pullman Innovations' Chicago facility converts a by-product of commercial edible oil into animal feed ingredients. The facility is located on the Southeast Side of Chicago in an area of environmental justice concern. Residents in the nearby area have spoken out for years against the debilitating odors from the facility. The lawsuit filed on Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court details how residents living near Pullman Innovations' Chicago facility have logged hundreds of complaints of frequent putrid odors that they describe as resembling rotten eggs, garbage, sewage, chemical odors, and rotting meat.

"Residents in the community surrounding the Pullman Innovations facility should be able to enjoy their lives and homes without having to endure the foul odors coming from the company's operations," said Attorney General Kwame Raoul. "The company needs to address the odor issues and air pollution and ensure that its operations comply with Illinois' environmental laws. I will continue to protect all Illinois communities and hold companies accountable when they violate our environmental laws."

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"When entities fail to act on City compliance mandates, we will use every tool available to us to ensure our residents are not subjected to environmental degradation," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "By filing this lawsuit, we are taking the next step in our ongoing work to hold polluters accountable while demonstrating to all parties that the City stands ready to protect all Chicagoans, regardless of zip code, from harm. I want to thank Attorney General Raoul for his partnership with the City, and the dedicated leadership at our Department of the Environment for driving forward our shared commitment to protect vulnerable communities and uphold environmental justice."

Several residents living near the facility report being forced to keep windows in their homes closed due to the nauseating odors, being unable to enjoy outdoor activities and being chased inside by odors, often interrupting family events. The odors are also affecting nearby schools and a local church, causing schools to cancel recess, and parishioners report that church events such as weddings, funerals and outdoor festivals are often ruined by the odors.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) inspected the site in February 2025. IEPA inspectors observed extremely strong odors both inside and outside the buildings at the facility, which, at times, made breathing difficult for the inspectors. The City of Chicago has conducted numerous inspections in response to complaints, and City inspectors have also encountered odors that made breathing difficult and caused nausea.

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"Pullman has repeatedly failed to correct the conditions that have burdened its community. Today, the City joins the attorney general in bringing this action because the long-suffering residents deserve relief and because environmental compliance is not optional," said Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry.

The lawsuit is based on a referral from the IEPA.

"Illinois EPA has pursued legal action against A-F Acquisitions LLC (Pullman Innovations) following numerous odor complaints from residents related to the facility's operations," said IEPA Director James Jennings. "As we continue to address community concerns, this lawsuit is a step in the right direction to ensure the company properly addresses emissions from the facility in a manner that will resolve odor complaints in the area."

The Attorney General's office enforces Illinois' environmental protection laws. Attorney General Raoul's Environmental Enforcement Division, which enforces civil environmental laws, has recovered millions of dollars from polluters and required companies to undertake environmental improvement projects in communities impacted by pollution. Raoul encourages residents to report environmental justice and other environmental concerns to his office by emailing ej@ilag.gov.

Assistant Attorneys General Justin Bertsche, Rebecca Kanz, Caitlin Kelly and Taylor Desgrosseilliers are handling the case for Raoul's Environmental Bureau.

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