9 Investigates

9 Investigates concerns about air quality from local recycling plant

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates has looked into air quality concerns surrounding a local recycling plant, just feet from homes.

Landers Recycling in Apopka is turning metal from cars and household items into small parts that might otherwise be tossed in a landfill.

The owner, Jonathan Landers, told Channel 9's investigative reporter Daralene Jones that they believe nothing being emitted into the air is harmful.

Fred Lynn owns a mobile home in the neighborhood immediately surrounding the plant, and described the smell as “horrid.”

“I know things change, areas don't stay the same, I realize that, but I don't understand why that was allowed to be put there when these homes are right here,” Lynn said.

Dust can accumulate in the area, it's part of the process to break down the recyclables. But one of the things they've done is hire someone to drive around a water truck to keep the area saturated and wet, 9 Investigates learned.

“The transition isn't right in today's standard,” Orange County Commissioner Bryan Nelson told Jones.

The State Department of Environmental Protection granted Landers an exemption from air permitting in 2005 when it converted from a concrete plant to a recycling plant. The exemption was based on reports submitted by Landers consultants.

Orange County has since determined the company doesn't qualify for an exemption, and is now forcing Landers to become the first in the area to install this $1.2 million "pollution control equipment.” The installation equipment was It was supposed to be done by June, but Landers has since received two extensions from Orange County.

“When you come in after the fact and try to retrofit a mill, and still maintain business and provide almost 40 jobs for the community, we still have to run. So it's been a constant juggling act,” Landers said.

A map provided by the county showed more than 50 other facilities emitting pollution. County leaders told 9 Investigates that Landers Recycling is different because of its proximity to homes, which isn't acceptable. The number of complaints from residents has also prompted the county to force the company to make changes.

“I don't want them to crush another thing until they get that thing operational, so we're not breathing it in,” Lynn said.

Landers has until January to get the air pollution system operational. However, county leaders said that if they pay $50, they can get another extension, because that's the way state law is set up. The owner told 9 Investigates that they hope to have the equipment operational by the end of the month.

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