Mysterious hum from Bristol trash plant drives residents to desperation

BRISTOL, Conn. (WFSB) - An irritating, relentless hum has been driving hundreds of people across three Connecticut towns to desperation for years, and they’re begging for something to be done about it.

“It makes you insane. It gives me anxiety. It makes it hard to sleep. It makes me want to leave my house,” said Francis Pickering of Southington.

The low-frequency noise affects residents in Bristol, Southington, and Plainville, coming and going as it pleases, even disrupting sleep. Doctors say the constant noise pollution can affect health, including cardiovascular problems.

Pickering decided to track down the source himself. “I got in my car at night, started driving around and I traced the sound,” he said. His desperate search led him to a cul-de-sac in Bristol, outside the ReWorld trash plant, which incinerates waste from 14 towns and converts it into electricity.

Despite living two miles from the plant, Pickering and many others are bothered by the noise. “It is a hum, but it’s not a consistent noise. It’s almost like someone revving their engine over and over again. Like, ‘vrmmm and vrmmm,’” he said.

What’s particularly strange is that not everyone hears it. Bruce Barton of Bristol does, and he’s been dealing with it for years. “We call it the midnight hum because you most often hear it—or most noticeably here—after all the traffic has died down,” Barton said.

For Pickering, the impact has been severe. “Going back in 2024, when it first got really pronounced, I could not escape it. It went to my basement, and I could not escape it,” he said.

Hillary Marquis, a clinical audiologist with UConn Health, says noise pollution is more than just an annoyance. “It can interfere with sleep, effects on heart health, cardiovascular health and long term effects on mental health as well. There are a lot of consequences to something like this,” she said.

The trash plant has operated in Bristol for more than 35 years. The Bristol Burlington Health District started receiving several complaints over the noise and claims ReWorld admitted to being the source.

Attorney Keith Ainsworth, who represents the health district, explains why the noise travels so far. “It travels a long distance, but depending on what’s between you and the source, if there’s a building, you may not hear it at all because the building acts as a shield,” he said.

The health department has sent ReWorld violation orders and fined the company roughly $35,000, but the noise continues. Ainsworth claims ReWorld has violated state noise regulations, saying “They run right about on the edge of compliance for their general noise; their discrete tone exceeds that, and that’s been the focus of the problem.”

While ReWorld has made some changes and the noise has improved, Ainsworth says it’s still a problem and public nuisance. He believes more can be done and people deserve better. Both sides are working on an agreement to avoid court.

In a statement, ReWorld told Eyewitness News ”At Reworld, we deeply value our relationship with the Bristol community. We have proudly served Bristol for more than 35 years, providing sustainable waste solutions and employing over 40 local residents. As part of our ongoing commitment to being a responsible neighbor, we’ve undertaken extensive efforts to address noise concerns at our Bristol facility, implementing the recommendations of third-party noise experts. Reworld is working cooperatively with the Bristol Burlington Health Department to ensure ongoing compliance, and we value the thoughtful engagement from Mayor Zoppo-Sassu and her team on behalf of their constituents. We care deeply about the well-being of this community and will continue to invest in efforts that support the quality of life for all Bristol residents."

While negotiations continue, residents like Francis are eagerly waiting for the night when they’ll be able to sleep without worrying about the hum following them home.

The health department’s attorney says it’s unreasonable to expect a facility like this to be completely quiet, but he hopes they can work out a solution that makes the noise bearable by the end of this year.