Neighbors take concerns about dust to Collier County commissioners

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Neighbors and business owners near a Coastal Waste and Recycling facility stood before Collier County commissioners, hoping their elected leaders would listen.

Their message comes after months of complaints about dust coming from the facility on Yahl Street and Pine Ridge Road — and after independent testing raised concerns about what they may be breathing in.

For months, WINK Investigates has been tracking concerns about dust coming from the facility. 

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Neighbors say the dust is coating cars, buildings, and even trees just down the street.

“I feel like I’ve smoked three packs a day," Joseph Barbara told WINK Investigates in November.

Barbara owns My Mechanic of Collier County, which neighbors the waste facility.

“Take immediate action,”: Residents speak out

On Tuesday, Barbara brought his concerns to Collier County Commissioners — along with other neighbors. One by one, they stepped up to the podium, pleading for help.

“I’m asking this board to take immediate action," Barbara said. "Conduct a thorough inspection of the facility and enforce all applicable regulations and require effective containment measures to prevent further harm."

“I close my doors. I never open them to let fresh air in, because there’s no fresh air," Lucy Dratler, owner of Dollars and Sense, said.

“It’s terrible. It’s really bad," said another nearby business owner who is a general contractor.

"It's going to affect tourism. It's going to affect multiple different facets of Collier County," Gretchen Rice, owner of Rice's Moving and Transport, told commissioners. “This needs to be given more consideration, respectfully, than it is." 

Independent testing raises concerns

To find out what was in the dust, WINK Investigates brought in an independent air quality expert in February.

“The results were not only astounding, but they were terrifying," Barbara said.

Lab results found materials including fiberglass, gypsum, and cellulose fibers, as well as particle levels above EPA-considered safe levels.

Those findings are now part of what neighbors are bringing directly to county leaders.

“This is not speculation. This is documented evidence. Families in this community are being forced to deal with conditions they did not create," Barbara said.

"Sorry, I get very upset, but I don't understand how this can be," Rice told the board emotionally. "There are so many human beings. So many people who are there as many hours in the day as they are at their homes."

Another nearby business owner said, “How do these guys allow themselves to do this every day? Is just beyond me.”

“I’m going through toxicity testing currently because of my sickness, and it’s due to this. I’ve been there for over 20 years," Dratler told the board.

WINK Investigates reached out again to Coastal Waste and Recycling following the commissioner's meeting. We did not receive an immediate response. 

In February, the company said it is aware of concerns and “It is our intention to be a responsible and valuable member of the community." The company added that its operations meet regulatory standards and that it is working to improve dust suppression.

WINK Investigates followed up to that email in February, asking for inspection reports, details on those upgrades, and a response to the test results. Those questions have not been answered.

County says issue is out of its hands

County leaders in the commission meeting acknowledged the public comment concerns, but said they don’t have the authority to step in.

"There have been several code cases. Unfortunately, they have been closed," Jamie French, Collier County's Growth Management & Community Development Department Head, said.

French added, "The board and the county are not the authority having jurisdiction. It is the state of Florida. As soon as those reports or those complaints come in [to the county], we refer them over, and we have been working with the DEP."

"We're not the ones who can fix the issue," Commissioner Chris Hall said. "That's great information to give to the DEP."

At one point, Commissioner Hall — who represents the district where the facility is located — also pushed back on our coverage of the issue.

“WINK News has called me. I'm just not interested in being in the news for something I can't help with. They make it look like we're the bad guys and we're not," Hall said.

By the end of public comment, commissioners said they would push the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for answers. 

"Staff has just reached out... to see if we can get something moving on this," Hall said. "You have our attention. It's not a good situation."

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection told WINK Investigates in February that it has received complaints and inspected the facility multiple times.

"I've been through a whole case with DEP several years ago, and I have gotten nowhere. It is a dead end every time," Rice said. "This is something that is going to be afflicting more than just me. I'm concerned for my 15 employees."

DEP told WINK Investigates it did not observe dust leaving the site during those inspections, but has directed the facility to increase dust control.

“This is about protecting public health, preserving property, ensuring that businesses are able to responsibly operate in our community," Barbara said. We’re not asking for anything unreasonable."

As of now, county leaders say the issue remains in the state’s hands.

Meanwhile, neighbors say they’re not going away — and will keep speaking out until something changes.