Sacramento County levies $40,000 fine against local composting facility

November 25, 12:29 PMSacramento Environmental News ExaminerHarry Osibin

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The Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) said on Monday that it has reached a settlement with Lopez Agricultural Services, a local composting facility, for violations of the company’s solid waste facility permit. 

Terms of the agreement include the payment of $40,000 in penalties and over $15,000 in delinquent fees. 

The facility violated its permit by exceeding state-mandated time limits for storing landscape or green waste material at their facility.  Lopez Agricultural Services uses these materials, along with other soil amendments, to produce compost and other soil enhancers for sale. 

“Composting is a great way to reuse or recycle this waste stream, but storing green waste past the 18 month legal limit can lead to severe odor and other associated problems,” said Val Siebal, EMD Director.  The parties reached the settlement after Lopez Agricultural Services removed all of the green waste material that exceeded the storage time limit. 

This is the second time in a three month period that the facility on Florin Road has been fined by EMD.  In August, Lopez Agricultural Services agreed to pay a $50,000 fine resulting from the acceptance of green waste from residential sources, another violation of its solid waste facility permit.  The facility does not have the handling and processing capability that is required for residential green waste material.  Lopez is allowed to accept material from commercial landscaping sources only.