October 26, 2011
Farmingville, NY – The following
are statements in response to the New York
State Department of Environmental
Conservation’s (DEC) modification of Great
Gardens’ (aka Long Island Compost) Solid
Waste Management Facility permit. The
modification is a result of complaints
regarding activities at the yard waste
transfer facility in Yaphank, and their
failure to control off-site migration of
odor and dust caused by activities at the
facility. The modification means that all
processing, tipping, sorting, storage, and
compaction areas at this facility must be
located within an enclosed building. On-site
storage of compost products that continue to
undergo the decomposition process will be
prohibited.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko said,
"In recent weeks I, along with Senator
Zeldin and Assemblyman Murray, have been in
frequent contact with DEC regarding Great
Gardens. We were assured that DEC was
conducting a top-to-bottom review of their
operations and DEC permit. DEC's
notification of significant modifications of
Great Gardens' permit reflects the results
of that comprehensive review. I commend
Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Martens, and
Regional Director Peter Scully for their
quick and professional review of this
matter. The DEC’s actions will result in an
improved quality of life for the residents
who live near Great Gardens.”
"In June, the Compost Committee, which I
created and chaired, offered recommendations
on how to address the concerns at LI
Compost. Those recommendations included many
of the steps taken by the DEC today. As
Councilwoman I have worked with Supervisor
Lesko to pass 2 sense resolutions asking the
DEC to adopt site specific air quality
standards and amend their regulations so
that processing of mulch is no longer an
exempt activity. This step in enclosing all
materials at LI compost of more than 50,000
cubic yards or 12,500 tons of solid waste
annually is a step in the right direction in
improving the lives of the residents I
represent in the Hamlet of Yaphank," said
Councilwoman Connie Kepert.
"After months of working together with
residents, civic groups, the owners and DEC
officials, these recommendations are yet
another step in reducing and eliminating the
source of odors and dust that have affected
the community, and allowing this business to
continue to operate and perform the
important service they provide for our
community, and the environment," said
Assemblyman Murray.
“In the last few months, we’ve been working
in a good faith effort with LI Compost, the
surrounding community, including the
Brookhaven Community Coalition (BCC), and
the DEC to bring a new spirit of effective
cooperation to the long time concerns of
local residents,” said Senator Zeldin. “I
look forward to working with the community
and LI Compost to preserve jobs, and promote
good relations between LI Compost and its
neighbors.”
"For six years I have advocated for remedies
to the impact of commercial composting on
residential communities," stated Legislator
Kate Browning. "I directed the Suffolk
County Health Department to conduct air
quality testing around all of these
facilities and Long Island Compost in
Yaphank was found to be the worst threat to
air quality and public health. On August 12,
2011 I was the first elected official to
advocate on behalf of the Brookhaven
Community Coalition's request for enclosure
and I am grateful for the DEC's actions to
remove this variance. This is the right
thing to do for the residents who have
patiently worked along side us to improve
their quality of life."
“This is a landmark victory for Brookhaven
residents and it sets a strong precedent for
compost facilities across Long Island to
work hard to be good neighbors. A giant
congratulations to the Brookhaven Community
Coalition, a diverse group of over 25
stakeholder organizations, who worked
aggressively and collaboratively to make
their communities a better place to live.
Our goal is for residents to be able to
breathe easier and have a better quality of
life. We are delighted and heartened that
the DEC provided such a thorough and
comprehensive ruling,” said Adrienne
Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens
Campaign for the Environment.
Division of Public Information * Office of
the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY
11738 • Phone (631) 451-6595 • Fax (631)
451-6258
