Summary
A University researcher told the Solid Waste Authority the county’s options for managing equestrian waste are constrained by limited land, seasonal surges and economics, and that composting, transfer systems and land application each have trade-offs.
A researcher who led an equestrian-waste review told the Solid Waste Authority board the county faces limited, region-specific options to manage horse stall bedding and similar materials and that economics, land availability and seasonality are major constraints.
Professor Townsend summarized research into eight case studies — including Marion County’s World Equestrian Center and an industry-scale composting operation the presenter identified by trade name — and said common approaches used elsewhere include roll-off collection and transfer facilities, land application where acreage is available and industrial-scale composting. The Marion County example highlighted roll-off boxes provided to shows and a transfer/compaction/compost supply chain; other case studies rely on land application where open acreage exists.
Townsend told the board composting is the most common management technology where space exists, but it requires significant area, active operation (turning, monitoring) and often a permit when run as a commercial facility. Thermal options (incineration/pyrolysis) and anaerobic digestion exist but require substantial capital and a steady year-round feedstock to be economically viable; seasonality of shows and transient populations make those economics challenging in Palm Beach County. The board also heard concerns from commissioners about illegal dumping and fire hazards associated with large, unmanaged vegetation and bedding piles in western unincorporated areas.
SWA staff said the authority has disposal capacity at its energy and landfill facilities but noted those options carry higher tipping fees and that the authority is limited by state preemption of agricultural operations: the county cannot compel agricultural producers to bring material to a facility. Staff also said a significant capital project to build advanced processing on county-owned land previously foundered on financing and economics.
Next steps: staff will post the full technical report and supporting materials on the authority website. Commissioners asked staff to explore local partnerships with private vendors and existing composters and to continue outreach in affected districts.
Why it matters: Palm Beach County’s equestrian economy is large and seasonal; without nearby land-application acreage or a local commercial composting capacity, options for handling stall bedding are limited and may continue to push material toward landfill or cause illegal dumping unless a viable collection-and-processing market is developed.
