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Lower Paxton officials outline compost-facility fixes after resident complaints
Summary
Township director summarized six months of operational changes at the compost and closed-landfill site — dust suppression equipment, methane monitoring, noise-mitigation berms, a submitted nuisance-control plan and DEP inspections with no violations — and said staff will provide the CSC engineers’ May 2025 report to the board for review.
At the Sept. 16 meeting of the Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors, Director Jarislowski presented a six-month status update on the township compost facility and closed landfill, describing what staff called a series of operational changes intended to reduce dust, odor and noise and to address resident complaints.
Jarislowski said the township purchased and is retrofitting a tanker truck for on-site dust suppression, installed a windsock and will halt operations when wind speeds exceed 10 knots. He reported that routine methane probes show no detectable migration and that the township, in partnership with HRG, has installed 19 in‑home methane detectors with eight more pending; future replacements will be available at public works on a one‑for‑one swap with proof of residency.
To reduce noise from loaders and grinders, Jarislowski said mulch berms have been installed and raised where possible and that equipment use on Fridays has been restricted near residential areas. He described weekly temperature checks of each windrow to maintain aerobic composting conditions and said the 2026 budget proposes a dedicated water line to improve dust suppression and compost quality.
Jarislowski noted recent milestones: submission of an improved nuisance-control plan in September 2025, completion of a preparedness/prevention/contingency plan (June 2025), a renewed DEP general permit (June 2025), a DEP compost-facility observation (June 2025) and an August 2025 methane test that showed compliance. He said DEP’s October 2024 inspection of the closed landfill identified no violations.
Board members pressed staff about the CSC Engineers report dated May 21, 2025, which some said had not been previously reviewed with the full board. Jarislowski said the CSC report had been a baseline study funded and organized by DEP, that it contained industry-wide recommendations, and that he would review its findings and recommendations with supervisors. He confirmed that the nuisance-control materials and enclosures would be made available in hard copy and digitally to interested residents and to other staff, and that staff would provide a copy to the township secretary and to Mr. Johnson upon request.
Several residents asked whether the township has considered long-term alternatives; Jarislowski said the town is evaluating solutions including the potential relocation of the compost facility if feasible.
The board did not take an immediate formal action on the nuisance-control plan at the meeting; Jarislowski opened the floor for questions and committed to follow-up with the CSC report and DEP materials.
