Georgia wastewater and composting facility shut down for environmental noncompliance

Organic recovery and biofuels company Wilbros has received orders from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to shut down its Stephens County wastewater treatment and composting facility, due to noncompliance with state and federal laws.

The facility has been cited for numerous violations of Georgia’s Solid Waste Management Act and Water Quality Control Act. Since March 2012, the EPD has issued enforcement actions to Wilbros with the goal of bringing the facility into compliance. This included an administrative order, two consent orders and a notice of violation.

Violations include loading and unloading waste in unpermitted areas, materials being stored and processed at leves exceeding regulatory limits, and wastewater discharges exceeding limits for total residual chlorine, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform and oil and grease.

In the past, Wilbros has accepted waste from septic tanks, grease traps and animal processing facilities. It has been the subject of hundreds of odour complaints in the northeast Georgia community.

EPD Director Judson Turner said that the action is appropriate given the facility’s record of chronic noncompliance.

"These types of facilities can serve an important role in recycling and waste reduction provided they are designed and managed properly," Turner added.

The facility must stop receiving waste immediately and begin closure proceedings. The EPD said that permits for solid waste handling and wastewater permits for the company will be revoked in 30 days. All waste materials held on site in the waste receiving building must be removed and disposed of properly within five days.