Personal Injury Attorney in Holly Hill, SC.

Updated: Mar. 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM PST

HOLLY HILL, S.C. (WCSC) - Many Holly Hill residents have turned to social media to draw attention to an unpleasant smell many believe is coming from the Synagro composting facility.

The foul smell has become a growing concern for many in the community, with some claiming it’s more unbearable than the smells emitted by a paper mill.

Some residents said the odor is so intense that it causes not only headaches for the parents but also for their children.

Emerald Dennis is a mom of four who moved to Holly Hill from the Charleston area about three-and-a-half years ago.

She said her kids love to play outside and she encourages them to. However, that’s become increasingly difficult due to this persistent odor, which she first noticed about a year ago.

She said the stench is quite impossible to ignore, as it’s a smell she says resembles that of burning human waste.

Dennis said the peaceful charm that comes with living in a rural community like Holly Hill has been overshadowed by this pervasive odor she and many others believe comes from the nearby composting facility called Synagro.

As community concerns continue to grow, many are demanding answers, but Dennis said Synagro has yet to offer any kind of explanation about what this putrid smell is, and what could be causing it.

Dennis said it’s difficult to predict when the smell will strike, but when it does, people immediately close their doors and windows. If they’re eating outside, they’ll head indoors to escape the odor.

Representatives from Synagro are set to address the situation tonight at the Holly Hill City Council meeting, according to the agenda.

Dennis said the odor isn’t just a nuisance for their family, but for the entire community, so much so that she says hundreds have signed a petition for some type of action to be taken.

“There’s over 200 people in Holly Hill that have signed the petition saying, ‘This affects me and I’m not okay with this.’ We also have someone who’s collecting the addresses of specific locations and times when people can smell this. They have it mapped out and you can literally see looking at the map that it whaffs over and just kind of sits over the top of the town. When I say there are hundreds of families interested in seeing this come to a full stop, that would not be an exaggeration,” Dennis said.

While many agree the odor is a major problem, Dennis said the town has been hesitant to take action, saying that Synagro’s facility is located outside of town limits- but again residents are hopeful that some type of change will be addressed at Monday night’s meeting.

According to Synagro’s website, the composting plant’s mission is to partner with communities to protect water and the environment by transforming waste into a resource.

Their mission statement claims to work towards creating healthier communities by eliminating environmental risks.

We reached out to Synagro for comment about the situation and here is their response:

“Synagro takes all odor complaints seriously and strives to ensure its facilities are good neighbors. Composting is basically the decomposition of organic materials into a stable, beneficial, nutrient-rich product. Like many agricultural and natural biological processes, composting can occasionally produce odors particularly when affected by area-specific weather and wind conditions. In addition, our composting facility in Holly Hill, SC, is located near several cement kilns, a wood processing plant, and many farms, including chicken processing all of which can generate odors at various times.”

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Throughout his legendary 14-year career in the MLB, Brett Gardner suited up for just one team — the New York Yankees! Known for his relentless drive, leadership in the team's clubhouse, and scrappy, blue-collar approach to the game, he became a beloved figure among fans.

His tenacity and never-give-up attitude made him not only a key player on the field but also a true fan favorite in the Bronx.

Brett made his final appearance in October 2021, and since stepping away from baseball, he's shifted his focus to spending quality time with his family, specifically his wife and two kids. Here's everything you need to know about the Gardner family.

In 2007, Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica Clendenin tied the knot. Not much is known about Jessica, as she has largely stayed out of the limelight, and the couple has kept their personal life private.

However, they have made a few public appearances together over the years! Notably, the lovebirds attended the Derek Jeter 18th Annual Turn 2 Foundation dinner in 2014, the CC Sabathia's PitCCh In Foundation — All Stars of New York Charity Bowling Tournament in 2017, and The LegaCCy Gala in 2019

As of now, Brett and Jessica, along with their two kids, reside in Holly Hill, S.C. Speaking of their children, here's what you need to know about them!

Since tying the knot, Brett and Jessica Gardner have started a family, welcoming two sons, Hunter and Miller. While the boys have generally kept out of the spotlight and away from social media, they made a rare public appearance with their loving parents at the CCandy Children's Clothing Line Launch at the MLB Fan Cave in New York City in 2013.

Tragically, in late March 2025, Brett and Jessica Gardner disclosed the heartbreaking news that their youngest son, Miller, had passed away.

He was just 14 years old.

"With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller," the Gardners announced in a statement. "He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation."

They continued, "We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st."

At the time of writing, Brett and Jessica did not reveal the location of their vacation or the cause of Miller's unexpected death. However, we will provide updates if and when more information becomes available.

According to The Athletic, Miller Gardner was a talented athlete, playing wide receiver and defensive back for his high school, Pinewood Prep in Summerville, S.C. He wore No. 11, just like his father did during his time with the Yankees. Miller also played as an outfielder and pitcher on the baseball field.

Our thoughts are with the Gardners during this incredibly difficult time.

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HOLLY HILL, S.C. (WIS) - A community continues its plea for a waste treatment company to put a dent in what they said is an unbearable smell.

Orangeburg County residents near Holly Hill said the stench is coming from Synagro’s Waste Recycling Facility. The company planned to have odor consultants assess the source of the smell last Friday.

Now, officials said that the assessment has since been delayed due to contracting issues.

Residents who attended a town council meeting Monday said they are less than optimistic about some of Synagro’s written plans to solve the stench.

“You go outside…and you go right back in. It’s wrecked a lifestyle,” said Holly Hill resident Kate Copesy.

On Friday, a spokesperson from Synagro told WIS the company hoped to reschedule its odor consultant to perform the rescheduled assessment on Monday.

But Holly Hill Mayor Billy Chavis said contract issues between Synagro and the consultant are what is causing the delay.

Chavis explained that though Synagro has made good on some of its March action plan to dent the smell, there’s a fine line the company walks in reducing the odor, and complying with state permitting guidelines.

“They cannot add chemicals to the treatment because they have microorganisms in that lagoon and bugs that eat the sludge,” said Chavis. ”That if you start adding chemicals, 1. You’re going to be in violation of your permit. 2. You’re going to kill your microorganisms and then you’re not going to be making compost.”

There’s one hope left in the company’s last action item on the March-issued plan. Airing out the waste lagoons, which is an agreement the town hopes the company will make good on and solving the problem.

“We have no other choice now than to sit here and bite down and bear with it until Synagro makes nice and does what they say they’re going to do. And then hopefully get this smell out of the air. Or, we’re going to have to look at other means,” said Chavis

One step Synagro has taken to help neighbors is rerouting its trucks and requiring those trucks transporting waste or compost to be covered when traveling in and out of the facility.

Synagro said the lagoons are scheduled to be bubbled on April 25.

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That’s the focus of a “Quality of Life Town Hall” scheduled for Thursday, March 27, at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of East Lake Elementary School (formerly Holly Hill Elementary) at 1490 Brant Ave., Holly Hill.

“I have been hosting town halls in my district on a variety of topics for the past few years,” state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter said.

“The Holly Hill Town Hall is the first of three slated for this year. The topics covered are generated from constituents,” she added.

The event is being co-sponsored by Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright.

Wright said invited panelists will give presentations and respond to selected written questions of general interest submitted by attendees. The panelists will be encouraged to make themselves available afterward for individual discussions.

Two of the scheduled panelists will represent Synagro. They are Matt Tabisz, director of business development, and Lisa Williams, director of technical services.

Synagro opened a biosolids recycling operation a little less than a year ago near Holly Hill. Area residents complain that it emits foul odors.

Williams told a standing-room-only audience at a Holly Hill Town Council meeting that Synagro is working to further identify the problem and implement a solution.

“Complaints about the smell emanating from the Synagro facility were shared recently at a Concerned Citizens meeting,” Cobb-Hunter said.

“I contacted the Department of Environmental Services and requested that they look into the matter and get back to me with the results,” she continued.

Myra Reece, director of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, is scheduled to participate as a panelist.

Reece will “speak about the permitting process and how the public can provide input before – rather than after – a facility has been permitted,” Cobb-Hunter said.

Another scheduled panelist is Dr. Jennie L. Stephens, chief executive officer of the Center for Heirs Property Preservation.

“The longstanding issue of heirs property is one that the Center for Heirs Property has been working on in Orangeburg County for some time now,” Cobb-Hunter said. “I want to amplify the center’s work and increase the community’s awareness of what resources are out there to help with this type of concern.”

The center is scheduled to present an estate planning and sustainable forestry seminar in Holly Hill on April 12.

“Additionally, I wanted constituents to be aware of the amount of development that is coming, especially in the eastern end of the county and about land use planning,” Cobb-Hunter said.

“Hopefully, some property owners in the area will give some thought to how their families can benefit from such planning,” she concluded.

Rounding out the panelists are government relations manager Alan Lee and land, water, ocean project manager Zach Bjur with the Conservation Voters of South Carolina.

More than a dozen residential subdivisions are in various stages of development across eastern Orangeburg County, including one that could include as many as 1,300 homes and another that could include more than 600 homes.