Sherwin-Williams Ordered to Fix Air Pollution Issues After Resident Complaints

A consent order has been issued by Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to Sherwin-Williams, ordering the company to address air pollution violations at its Rochester plant in New York. Residents living near the facility have complained about a strong odor described as 'pure chemicals' and 'nail polish remover.'

Under the agreement, Sherwin-Williams has 30 days to pay $124,700 in civil penalties for violating Pennsylvania's Air Pollution Control Act. The company must also correct issues with its equipment, including a missing thermal oxidizer that destroys volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

If these problems are not resolved, the company could face fines of $1,000 per day for each violation. Residents have reported that the smell has been persistent and affects their air quality, making it painful to breathe.