The Lenz composting facility borders. (Google Earth)

The Lenz composting facility borders. (Google Earth)

Firm calls rules for expanded composting near Stanwood ‘unlawful’

Among other things, Lenz Enterprises claims a condition barring odors from its composting is “unreasonable.”

STANWOOD — Lenz Enterprises is challenging the conditions of a permit to double its composting operation off Highway 532, saying they are “unlawful” and could force the company to shutter the entire operation.

The firm obtained approval for expansion from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency in mid-January, nearly three years after applying for the permit.

But a month later, in February, lawyers for the family-owned firm filed an appeal of a dozen conditions, including one barring detectable odors arising from composting beyond the facility’s boundary and another requiring the capture of at least 98% of ammonia emissions from aerated piles.

“The conditions in the Order are unlawful or otherwise unreasonable,” attorney James Tupper wrote in the appeal.

”Several of the conditions … exceed the authority of agency, are not rational, based on the relevant facts in this matter, or reasonable. Some of the conditions may render it impossible to continue the composting operation as the conditions are made applicable to the existing and expanding composting operations,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, several Stanwood residents and Cedar Grove, another composting firm, filed a separate appeal aimed at blocking the expansion pending further analysis of its impact on the community.

They contend the clean air agency’s environmental review “was fundamentally flawed”and “failed to accurately quantify emissions” at each stage of the composting process.

Residents contend the lack of good data on air emissions “could adversely affect their health, well-being, and enjoyment of their property.”

Cedar Grove operates composting facilities in Everett and Maple Valley. It alleges the agency is not requiring Lenz abide by the same environmental standards as imposed on Cedar Grove. That could lead to “higher emissions and odors from the Lenz facility than the state Clean Air Act allows.”

Both appeals were filed with the Pollution Control Hearings Board, a three-person panel that handles appeals of clean air agency actions. The board will hold hearings on the appeals, which have been consolidated, in March 2023.

Lenz is also seeking a stay of the enforcement of the conditions it disputes.

Residents and Cedar Grove also filed for a stay to “preserve the status quo” and prevent further work on the expansion until the appeals are resolved.

The hearing board had not acted on either request as of Friday.

Barring action by the board, Lenz can proceed with the expansion under the permit issued in January.

It allows Lenz to accept up to 150,000 tons per year of compostables like food waste, yard debris and animal manure — twice what is now allowed. Currently, Lenz Enterprises material is primarily used to make gardening and landscaping products. It’s smaller than composting facilities in Everett and Maple Valley operated by Cedar Grove.

According to documents, the company will expand areas used for each stage of the composting process and install two new biofilters to capture emissions.

In the first stage, the area where material is aerating would be more than doubled. And 177,000 square feet of paved area would be added for the second phase of composting, in which piles of material are turned. With more space for aerating and pile-turning, the time spent in the curing process should be shortened and the potential for odorous emissions decreased.

Lenz also will switch from a mass bed system, whereby material aerates in large piles, to “windrow,” with material spread in long rows with valleys between the rows. Those rows, or beds, must be turned at least once every seven days under the permit.

The company received a violation notice from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency in January after it installed components for the expansion before obtaining the permit. The firm paid a $1,000 fine.

“I did not understand that this work could not commence prior to the PSCAA issued order of approval for the expansion,” Jason Lenz, vice president and general manager of the company, said in a declaration filed in opposition to the residents’ motion for a stay. “While Lenz jumped the gun … at no time has Lenz put any of the new components to use for commercial composting.”

The Lenz composting operation is within the family-owned company’s sand-and-gravel mine at 5210 Highway 532.

Composting began there in 2008. Initially, the company was permitted to accept up to 30,000 tons of organics a year.

In 2014, Lenz received permission under a temporary permit to expand and process up to 75,000 tons per year of organics. A vast majority of that material comes from the city of Seattle, though some comes from Snohomish County and other cities in King County.

Lenz applied for the permit to expand in February 2019. It supersedes the one issued in 2014.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.