Stanislaus County residents opposed to composting facility cite odors, dirty air
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- Neighbors oppose West Main compost project over odors, truck traffic and air quality.
- Applicant seeks permit for 160 tons daily of green waste and local compost sales.
- Board continued appeal; opponents cite study gaps on air, traffic and energy use.
A proposed Turlock-area composting facility faces opposition from neighbors who have concerns about odors, truck traffic and air quality impacts.
West Main Compost appealed a Stanislaus County Planning Commission decision in April, which rejected the compost facility proposed on 23.5 acres in the 1200 block of West Main Street, between South Carpenter and Crows Landing roads.
Last week, a Board of Supervisors hearing on the appeal was continued until Nov. 18 at the applicant’s request.
Machado & Sons Construction proposes a facility receiving 160 tons of waste materials per day, including yard clippings, discarded food materials and other green waste. The facility will produce soil amendments for sale to local farmers. More than 43,000 cubic yards of material, 16,500 cubic yards of compost piles and 51,600 cubic yards of curing compost will be processed at the site, using diesel-powered equipment, front-end loaders and a water truck.
The waste materials will come from municipal solid waste transfer stations in Stanislaus County and also include agricultural wastes, the applicant says. The West Main facility is proposed to operate with five employees Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. None of the waste will come from outside the county, according to local government staff reports.
No structures are proposed other than a 960-square-foot modular office.
A dozen people including nearby landowners and residents spoke in opposition to the land use permit at the Planning Commission hearing April 17. Their concerns focused on traffic and air quality impacts, potential nuisances including noise, odor and dust, and reduced property values.
Nearby residents also wanted to know more about the waste materials and contamination that would be hauled to the facility, any fire hazards and possible alternative locations.
Dean Wilson, a nearby property owner, objected to the facility’s location amid multiple homes, businesses and a school. More than 200 people have signed petitions opposing the facility.
In a July 31 letter to the county, an attorney representing the neighbors also charged there were “fatal deficiencies” in the environmental study regarding air quality impacts and adverse health effects.
Attorney Steve Herum wrote that the study failed to satisfy requirements to evaluate the facility’s energy use and mitigate wasteful energy consumption. The county didn’t require a full environmental impact report for the land use proposal. The Planning Commission vote denying the permit was 5-2.
Sean Kilgrow, project executive for Machado & Sons, said community feedback from three town hall meetings has been important for shaping the project. He said the comments were taken into account in making changes to the facility’s design.
“We’re excited to bring the West Main Compost project to turn organic materials consisting of a combination of landscape residue, vegetable good material and green waste into high-quality, non-petroleum-based compost and fertilizers for Stanislaus County’s growers and agricultural market,” Kilgrow said via email.
In addition to providing a local source of sustainable soil products, the facility will create jobs and support long-term employment opportunities, he said.
According to Herum, an analysis underestimated traffic projections and road impacts. An initial study said daily traffic would be 26 trucks, including 20 delivering product to the site and three outgoing truckloads of finished compost material. But a noise study indicated 40 truckloads daily.
Since it’s logical to assume the 20 incoming trucks will leave after making deliveries, Herum wrote, the operation will generate twice that many truck trips, or up to 80 trips daily if the noise study is correct.
Applicant promises no toxic waste
County staff said at the hearing in April that the waste hauled to the facility will not be toxic or include chemicals. The yard waste taken to solid waste transfer stations comes from residential green bins, while waste from supermarkets will include expired produce, meat and dairy products.
Kilgrow said the business doesn’t have contracts yet to receive materials from solid waste transfer stations but is first working to get development approvals. Machado & Sons will develop and operate the facility, he said.
Planning Commissioner Becky Campo said at the April hearing she wasn’t ready to support the project because of the neighbors’ testimony and concerns the composting facility would be detrimental to the surrounding community.
Machado & Sons Construction initially asked for a continuance in August in order to address the issues in Herum’s letter. Another continuance was requested and granted at the Oct. 21 county board meeting.
Supervisor Vito Chiesa said the board has a history of approving extensions for applicants who ask for more time to make their projects better.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 7:27 AM.
