Odor complaints doubled with Synagro, witness says
Odor complaints doubled with Synagro, witness says
The Temescal Canyon composter is in a new trial with its appeal of awards totaling $140,000.
BY ADRIANA CHAVIRA
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
RIVERSIDE
Complaints of odors at a sewage-sludge composting plant in Temescal Canyon doubled after the current owner purchased the property in 1998, according to testimony Friday in Superior Court.
Synagro Composting Co. of California was granted a new trial of the $140,000 decision against it in favor of 28 residents, who were awarded $5,000 apiece.
Alice Beasley, a Riverside County environmental health specialist, testified that during the first half of 1998, employees with the county's Department of Environmental Health logged 146 complaints against Recyc Inc., which sold its plant to Synagro at the end of July 1998. In the second half of 1998, Synagro had 385 complaints, she testified.
"They didn't have three consecutive days with no complaints," Beasley said, referring to Synagro.
In September 2000, the 28 residents filed individual small claims actions against Synagro, and each received the $5,000 maximum award possible in small claims court.
Synagro appealed the decisions, which resulted in the new trial, which began Friday in Superior Court in Riverside with lawyers representing each side.
The Temescal Canyon residents allege that the pungent, musty odor of the sludge composting at the plant off Interstate 15 and Temescal Canyon Road is a nuisance, keeps them from enjoying the outdoors and their homes, makes them ill and lowers their property values.
Synagro is allowed to take in as much as 500 tons of sewage sludge a day and to turn it into compost.
"The stench becomes so overwhelming . . . in come cases, they vomit and can't stand to go outside," said Raymond W. Johnson, the lawyer representing the residents.
Synagro's attorney Richard D. Marca said that there are many residents, including 300 who signed sworn declarations, who are not bothered by the odors from that the plant.
The new trial is scheduled to resume Sept. 4 with additional witnesses for the residents. Witnesses for Synagro are scheduled to testify on Sept. 5. The following day, the 28 residents are scheduled to testify.
The Temescal Canyon composter is in a new trial with its appeal of awards totaling $140,000.
BY ADRIANA CHAVIRA
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
RIVERSIDE
Complaints of odors at a sewage-sludge composting plant in Temescal Canyon doubled after the current owner purchased the property in 1998, according to testimony Friday in Superior Court.
Synagro Composting Co. of California was granted a new trial of the $140,000 decision against it in favor of 28 residents, who were awarded $5,000 apiece.
Alice Beasley, a Riverside County environmental health specialist, testified that during the first half of 1998, employees with the county's Department of Environmental Health logged 146 complaints against Recyc Inc., which sold its plant to Synagro at the end of July 1998. In the second half of 1998, Synagro had 385 complaints, she testified.
"They didn't have three consecutive days with no complaints," Beasley said, referring to Synagro.
In September 2000, the 28 residents filed individual small claims actions against Synagro, and each received the $5,000 maximum award possible in small claims court.
Synagro appealed the decisions, which resulted in the new trial, which began Friday in Superior Court in Riverside with lawyers representing each side.
The Temescal Canyon residents allege that the pungent, musty odor of the sludge composting at the plant off Interstate 15 and Temescal Canyon Road is a nuisance, keeps them from enjoying the outdoors and their homes, makes them ill and lowers their property values.
Synagro is allowed to take in as much as 500 tons of sewage sludge a day and to turn it into compost.
"The stench becomes so overwhelming . . . in come cases, they vomit and can't stand to go outside," said Raymond W. Johnson, the lawyer representing the residents.
Synagro's attorney Richard D. Marca said that there are many residents, including 300 who signed sworn declarations, who are not bothered by the odors from that the plant.
The new trial is scheduled to resume Sept. 4 with additional witnesses for the residents. Witnesses for Synagro are scheduled to testify on Sept. 5. The following day, the 28 residents are scheduled to testify.
posted by Sludge at 7:20 AM
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