Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Venus residents press county to block Compost USA expansion as DEP review nears
Summary
Multiple Venus residents told the Highlands County commission on Aug. 19 they oppose Compost USA's permit amendment to expand from 50 to 80 acres and increase truck traffic to 150 trucks per day; commissioners said county attorneys are negotiating with the company while DEP permit steps continue.
Dozens of residents from the Venus area urged Highlands County commissioners on Aug. 19 to block a proposed expansion of the Compost USA facility on Hicora Road, saying the expansion would increase odors, truck traffic and potential contamination risks.
Speakers said the company is seeking a permit amendment with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expand the operation from about 50 acres to 80 acres and to increase daily truck trips from roughly 50 to roughly 150. Residents and neighbors described recurring offensive odors and worries about groundwater contamination from biosolids and other waste inputs used in compost.
"When…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
