Kentucky residents sue Logan Aluminum over gnats

“Residents near the plant … have repeatedly experienced an unusual and enormous infestation of gnats and/or similar flying insects, which began after the DC4 area opened and began receiving the recycled aluminum bales and/or biscuits. The infestation festers and continues with each new delivery,” the lawsuit states.

The suit, filed July 18, claims the insects had not been a problem before this and has “continued to get progressively worse as the recycled aluminum continues to be delivered to the Logan plant and stored in the DC4 area.”

Residents said they had discussed with the company how to deal with the problem but the firm “simply stopped” in late 2024.

The lawsuit says the infestation is so bad that they can’t “use the bathroom without gnats crawling on their bodies,” food is covered in bugs, and rest is “impossible due to gnats flying up their nose or down their throat.”

The company denies that it is the cause of the problem.

“Logan Aluminum does not comment on pending litigation,” it said in a statement to AMU. “We are, however, aware of reports of increased insect activity in various parts of Logan County, including recent spikes after the unusually high rainfalls this year. We, along with others in the community, are working to understand the issue and help. Logan Aluminum values being a responsible community member and is committed to working with the residents of Logan County.”

Logan Aluminum is the largest single can sheet facility in the country, supplying nearly half of the North American can market. It employs about 1,300 people. The company, which is owned by Novelis and Tri-Arrows Aluminum, produces more than 2 billion pounds of aluminum per year.

The lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.