Since April, this newspaper has covered the dispute between neighbors and operators of the organic compost facility south of Lebanon. Reporters have also looked at the pros and cons of allowing these centers to operate in Ohio and will continue to cover developments in the Warren County case.
The operators of an organic composting center south of Lebanon got the green light Tuesday to resume operations, provided the operator abides by a set of conditions designed to minimize odors and other possible health hazards.
Warren County commissioners approved the operation of Marvin Duren’s composting center on US 42 south of Lebanon with 16 conditions designed to satisfy neighbors’ concerns.
“It’s going to work. We’re going to make it work,” Duren said after the meeting, culminating weeks of deliberation by the commissioners and almost a year of controversy sparked when neighbors complained to the county, Ohio EPA and the media.
With Commissioner Dave Young abstaining, the commissioners voted 2-0 Tuesday to allow Duren to get back to business, once the conditions have been met.
Until neighbors complained , Duren was taking in as much as 50 tons a day of yard waste, animal manure and food scraps from local governments, restaurants and supermarkets, even the Cincinnati Zoo.
Before resumption of the full operation, Duren is required to improve the road and add landscaping, fencing and a clay lining to the pond handling water on the site.
Duren also is required to complete plans for management of materials accepted, and control water and other materials leaking off his property. He also is required to limit compost piles to 30 feet in height and restrict operations to 8 am to 6 pm daily.
After the meeting, neighbors, who had urged the county to shut down Duren, said they were willing to live with the facility, provided he meet the 16 conditions.
“As long as he abides by those and operates responsibly, I’m fine with it,” Tina O’Sullivan said.
Last year, Duren and the county agreed to settle a lawsuit about the facility through the site-plan review process ending with Tuesday’s decision.
Duren said he temporarily closed his garden center north of the compost center while concentrating on bringing the facility into compliance.
The commissioners said they had to approve a plan for Duren’s facility since it was an allowable use under county zoning regulations. Young said he abstained from the vote because he missed a public hearing on the issue in December.
The conditions are designed to prevent the odors upsetting neighbors and other possible hazards potentially affecting a nearby aquifer and adjoining properties.
“We think we’ve effectively done that. We hope we’ve effectively done that,” Commissioner Pat South said after the vote.
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