Neighbors of the Hunts Point Wastewater Treatment Plant are pushing for the immediate start of a multimillion-dollar upgrade, citing a foul odor as a major pollutant and urgent issue.

"The odor to me smells like a dead animal,” says Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr. “It's embarrassing for me and my community.”

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced in June the start of the $67 million comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade at the plant in the South Bronx. The upgrade is set to be completed by 2020 and is promising an annual savings of $1.7 million and the elimination of 826 metric tons of greenhouse gases every year.

Many say they've needed the air quality to improve for decades.

Salamanca is asking the DEP to restore the Hunts Point Monitoring Committee that used to offer community input on plant issues, calling the issue a matter of “quality of life.”

Many community members and advocates say they would like to see a log of scavenger trucks, to have access to daily odor meters, and to see a list of 3-1-1 odor complaints to confirm that the issue is in fact being monitored.

In a comment, the DEP wrote "We are committed to being a good neighbor and have pledged to continue to work with the community to combat any nuisance odors."