Recology's composting enterprise near North Plains strives to clear the air
Greg Pryor, general manager of Recology Environmental Solutions, samples the aroma of finished compost at Nature's Needs in North Plains. Tualatin residents fear that Grimm's Fuel may end up leading to odor problems similar to Nature's Needs if it accepts food scraps. Grimm's Fuel says it doesn't have immediate plans to do so, although it wants to keep the option open.
(Michal Thompson/Hillsboro Argus )
[Updated:
Comment period extended]
Residents and businesses near
, a longtime composting facility, implored the state's environmental agency to crack down on
.
The
held a public hearing Oct. 30 on a draft composting permit for Grimm's Fuel, which would align the business with new composting regulations.
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Dozens have complained about shutting windows and staying indoors because of the composting smell. What many residents at the hearing feared was that the permit would eventually allow the facility to compost meat, dairy products and certain dead animals. Grimm's has been composting mostly yard debris and clippings since 1980.
Washington County has considered launching a
in the Tigard, Tualatin and King City area. Several residents asked if Grimm's would start composting food from restaurants, aggravating what they called an already noxious smell. They pointed to North Plains, where
from the Nature's Needs plant led Washington County commissioners to
from the site.
Jeff Grimm, the general manager of Grimm's Fuel, said his facility was only interested in composting residential food waste, if a curbside collection program started nearby. The pending permit is not enough to allow such composting. Grimm's Fuel has already obtained a conditional use permit from Tualatin, but also needs to enter a franchise agreement with Metro, the
, and receive approval for its operations plans from DEQ.
Lawrence Brown, a DEQ official in charge of writing Grimm's Fuel permit, said he would likely clarify that the company is only seeking to compost residential food waste in the permit. He also offered to look into suggestions to build in checkpoints or public comment opportunities in the life of the 10-year permit. Residents recommended that as a safeguard to ensure compliance.
DEQ is accepting written comment until Wednesday Nov. 20, and the agency expects to respond to comments and issue a decision in January.
Here are highlights from what residents had to say about Grimm's Fuel:
Councilor Joelle Davis, describing new businesses and houses:
"That's
Emily Gonzalez, lives in a nearby subdivision.
"Our neighborhood is full of young children who are already affected by the current odor levels. Some days are so bad my children can'
Jerry Fisk of FunTime RV: "I've had customers become nauseous and leave. It happens only rarely at times, but I can see smells getting any worse with composting of food waste."
Stephen Titus, northern Tualatin resident: "The attempt to paint Grimm's Fuel as the new Nature's Need of 2014 is irresponsible at best. They seem like honest people trying to provide a service that has been mandated by Oregonians in an ever increasingly regulated environment."
--Fenit Nirappil: 503-294-4029; fnirappil@oregonian.com