Allan Gerlat, News Editor

October 22, 2014

1 Min Read
Agency Orders Peninsula Compost to Close Delaware Recycling Unit

A Delaware government agency has ordered the closure of Peninsula Compost Co. LLC’s recycling and composting facility in Wilmington because of an inability to control odors.

Secretary David Small of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) issued an order to close the facility and immediately stop accepting any material at the facility, according to a news release.

The order also requires all active composting of existing material onsite to be completed by Jan. 16, 2015. All compost and related waste must be removed from the facility by March 31, 2015.

“Peninsula Compost Company has placed an undue burden on the quality of life of residents in the city of Wilmington, parts of the city of New Castle and part of New Castle County – particularly those living in close proximity to the facility due to frequent uncontrolled odors,” Small said. “The company has been unable to maintain compliance with DNREC’s Beneficial Use Determination permit.”

Some of the issues include equipment being non-operational; time needed to produce finished compost takes longer than originally planned; waste or finished compost has been stored onsite above approved quantities; and a failure to develop markets to meet production demand, according to the agency.

Peninsula Compost began operating the Wilmington Organic Recycling Center in late 2009. The firm was processing about 115,000 tons of waste annually.

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

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