The company forced to shut down a controversial composting facility in Wilmington by March is receiving notice of even more violations.
Peninsula Compost is in violation of the order to shut down its organic waste recycling center on at least nine counts, according to DNREC. The violations include the storage of certain materials above approved limits and failing to maintain temperatures at the facility.
Bill Miller, an environmental program manager at DNREC, said Peninsula Compost is aware of the violations and he hopes the issues will be resolved by a January 16 deadline to address them.
"We don’t expect it to be an ongoing issue, or an issue that continues or worsens," Miller said. "But there is an enforcement process, and we would make a determination on what other mechanisms are necessary, and if a monetary penalty is necessary what that would be."
Miller said the company has indicated verbally that it will comply with the violation notice to avoid penalties.
"We’re hoping that’s the case," he said. "We haven’t been there since we’ve issued the violation, but we’ll be back up there around January 16th to make sure everything is addressed."
DNREC declined to renew Peninsula’s five-year beneficial use determination permit in October, effectively forcing the composting center to shut down.
The decision came after residents and lawmakers complained about offensive odors coming from the facility.