Neighbors Say Overwhelming Offensive Odors Coming From Compost Site

VENUS, FL. -- CompostUSA’s facility at 80 Hicoria Road in Venus, FL is at the center of a code violation for violating Highlands County Ordinance 5.6-3 (Nuisance Abatement) due to overwhelming, offensive odors. A special magistrate ruled in the county's favor, leading to ongoing settlement negotiations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Here are the specific details of the violations and ongoing regulatory actions:

The Code Violation The Issue: The plan which processes human wastewater biosolids and wood waste into a dark soil amendment emits a repugnant odor that has plagued nearby residents for years.

The Statute: Highlands County cited the company under Chapter 5, Section 5.6-3 (Nuisance Abatement), which prohibits residents or businesses from allowing foul odors and nuisances to exist on their property.

Enforcement Actions: Following complaints and an investigation where an officer smelled the foul odor up to 3,000 feet away, a Highlands County Special Magistrate ruled the operation to be a continuous violation of the nuisance ordinance. [1, 4, 6, 12]

Settlement & Ongoing Negotiations Rather than immediately closing or fining the company $100-a-day, the county and CompostUSA have been participating in ongoing legal negotiations to establish a binding Settlement Agreement.

While the county works on this agreement, local commissioners have asked frustrated Venus residents to allow the legal talks to play out before taking further punitive action.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is also managing the facility's operations manual, which the company claims it continues to follow. [15, 16]

Broader Community Impacts Expansion Push: The odor dispute has been heavily complicated by CompostUSA's pending requests to expand operations to 80 acres, which would drastically increase truck traffic (up to 150 trucks a day).

Community Pushback: Local homeowners strongly oppose the expansion until the company can definitively prove they can mitigate the existing stench, which prevents them from opening windows or enjoying their yards.

Agricultural Support: On the other hand, the plant draws support from citrus and agricultural operators who rely heavily on the company's "Comand" line of compost to enrich their groves. [3, 6, 12, 17]

[1] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compost-firm-gets-nuisance-violation/article_c251c5dc-f96b-4174-be9b-ae692dede036.html
[2] https://www.facebook.com/100079975333392/photos/for-over-3-years-our-family-has-been-subjected-to-the-devastating-effects-of-com/1001201039222398/
[3] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/neighbors-file-complaints-against-plant/article_f98d91af-3b12-48fb-a9ed-cae653001190.html
[4] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/magistrate-fix-the-smell/article_3c0cb24f-71d8-466b-a626-e02db88533be.html
[5] https://www.hcpao.org/Search/Parcel/303820A0001500000C
[6] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/magistrate-fix-the-smell/article_fc341a1f-222d-4dd5-8968-8ec0fc6dd5a6.html
[7] https://www.wgcu.org/top-story/2026-06-19/after-years-of-complaining-about-order-from-a-sludge-composting-facility-relief-may-be-in-sight
[8] https://compostusa.com/
[9] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/creeden-compost-key-to-floridas-future/article_317bcbd0-f601-11ef-951c-930ca193ae44.html
[10] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compost-firm-gets-nuisance-violation/article_c251c5dc-f96b-4174-be9b-ae692dede036.html
[11] https://www.facebook.com/100079975333392/photos/for-over-3-years-our-family-has-been-subjected-to-the-devastating-effects-of-com/1001201039222398/
[12] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compostusa-in-talks-with-county/article_2ee18c5b-feb3-47d2-9696-dfd76f6d794e.html
[13] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compost-plant-talks-continue/article_1f4768f1-431d-40f1-97d0-1dd1271abaf4.html
[14] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compostusa-in-talks-with-county/article_2ee18c5b-feb3-47d2-9696-dfd76f6d794e.html
[15] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compost-plant-tries-again/article_0cef3414-e337-11ef-bf8b-8be400645519.html
[16] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compost-plant-talks-continue/article_1f4768f1-431d-40f1-97d0-1dd1271abaf4.html
[17] https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/compost-plant-tries-again/article_0cef3414-e337-11ef-bf8b-8be400645519.html