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DEQ says Mesick compost pile is 'vastly improved'

State inspectors say a commercial compost site in Mesick is in much better shape than what they saw in July.

DEQ’s Jim Staley, a geo-environmental engineer, was at the site a few days ago and said he didn't see a single vulture or crow. That compares to last July when dozens of vultures and crows soared above the pile and stinky odors drifted into neighboring homes.

"It's vastly improved," he said. “Right at the pile, you could still smell it, but it was nowhere near what it was in July."

Staley said it looks like the owners of Northern Composting followed through on their plan to improve management of their compost piles, such as turning them over more frequently. He added that colder weather also contributes to a lower level of odors and nuisance animals.

Northern Composting opened quietly early last summer and accepted large amounts of food waste from festivals and restaurants. Last month, the two owners met with angry neighbors who complained that the pile stunk, contained plastic and other items that won’t break down, and was a garbage magnet for coyotes, eagles and vultures.

The two owners promised to move the pilesby next spring and to stop accepting waste until they do. Staley said they are still planning on doing just that.

DEQ District Supervisor Phil Roycraft, who also inspected the site, said it would have been better if the neighbors knew about it before it opened.

"We always encourage businesses that are going to have some environmental impact to work with the local unit of government so they at least know what's going on, but that is certainly not required, and in this instance there is no evidence that there was a township ordinance that's actually been violated," he said. 

Roycraft said townships and counties have the power to impose rules of land use but has seen local entities back away from their power to zone because of budget constraints.

The DEQ likes the idea of commercial composts since it means less food waste in landfills. Compost is often called “black gold” because it’s used to enrich garden soils. But operators must do their homework on all aspects involved in running a commercial operation, Roycraft said.

"This is a fledgling business and I think the owners admit that," Roycraft said. "They're learning as they go. It was small enough to be corrected very readily.”