OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Crews continue removal of “wet cake” at the closed AltEn plant in Mead.

Wet cake is a left over from ethanol production.

A few years ago, the facility was in hot water after improper storage of the byproduct caused a rancid smell to bake into the community.

Resident Jody Weible describes the smell at the time as “sweet acidic death.”

“It was terrible,” remembers Weible. “you could not come out and do yard work, you couldn’t breathe out here it made your eyes water, it made you cough people got sick, and it seemed to take forever to get things started.”

Now its a bit easier to breath.

“This year has gone faster than I expected,” said Weible. “Last year I was still going oh come on this is gonna take a long time and this year they have stepped up the game big time.”

Bill Butler of NewFields says a new removal process has helped with efficiency.

“This year we came into it thinking lets try this alternative approach using basically in-situ mixing with an excavator rather than relying upon larger mechanical equipment.” explains Butler.

To date, more 47 thousand tons have been removed since last summer.

More removal is on the way as an estimated 100,000 tons still sit at the location.

Extra testing is also underway.

Butler says the soil underneath the cake has been checked but another test will be conducted once the project is complete.

Belleuve senator Carol Blood told six news she is worried the damage is already done.

She’s worried about the long term effects of this waste could have on the community.

“Any toxicologist is going to tell you, that when things start sinking into the ground, when things start going into our waterways,” explains Blood. “The longer that has happened the more likely there is to be toxins that are going to be effecting people.”

Blood says those toxins can cause many neurological issues, skin cancer, birth defects and more.

She’s also frustrated at the states response to the biohazard.

Jody Weible has been at the forefront of this dispute.

She says small communities get overlooked so stepping up was important.

Weible attended townhalls, and reached out state officials since the issues began.

The road has been long but she is happy that progress is made.

This process lead to some self discovery.

“I learned that I am a lot more tenacious and that I can speak publicly when I have to,” explained Weible. “I do a lot of praying beforehand and I kind of let God take over, but yeah I am stronger then I knew I was.”

Now, its time to be patient time alleviates the situation.

”We’re making huge strides, and we are going to have those off days where we are still going to smell something but it isn’t everyday non-stop,” said Weible. “We’re getting there.”

FRG anticipates the remaining wet cake will be removed by 2025.