'What are we breathing in?’ Lee County businesses raise concerns over dust

LEE COUNTY, Fla (WINK) — WINK Investigates has received new complaints about heavy dust in Lee County being blamed on a recycling facility, we have heard from several residents and business owners who live near facilities owned by the same company in Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties.

The first concerns WINK Investigates received were from Collier County back in November, we could see the heavy amounts of dust in the area. Several business owners and residents claim the dust is coming from the Coastal Waste and Recycling facility. WINK Investigates brought in a third-party company to test the dust, it found materials like fiberglass in dust samples.

WINK Investigates then uncovered similar concerns in Charlotte County — where another facility owned by the same company prompted complaints from neighbors in the area.

RELATED: Port Charlotte neighborhood demands answers over persistent dust clouds

Coastal Waste has maintained throughout to WINK Investigates that it follows all state guidelines.

Now, in Lee County along Alico Road, business owners say they share the same dust problem and they claim it’s costing them tenants.

Neighboring businesses near a Coastal Waste and Recycling facility on Mainland Pkwy say dust coats their cars, gets inside their buildings. It is an issue that has persisted for years.

“It literally blankets all the vehicles, the whole property, all the windows, the AC units. Everything gets extremely filthy, even inside with doors closed,” said Chris Kehl, who manages property at Alico Gator Plaza and owns Von Baron Motorcycles. “It’s just absurd.”

WINK News' drone captures his neighbors from above: a Coastal Waste and Recycling facility, a Waste Connections site, and a landscaping supply business.

Kehl believes the dust may be coming from a combination of sources but pointed to large piles of material at the Coastal Waste site.

On dry and windy days, Kehl says conditions get worse. Kel and his neighbors are concerned about what is in the dust.

“What are we breathing in? What are our workers breathing in? What are our neighbors breathing in? What are our clients breathing in?” said Jake Oramas, the operations manager for Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings. “It’s concerning.”

Numerous businesses say they’ve filed multiple complaints with local and state agencies — but haven’t seen results.

“We’ve been reaching out to authorities… not really seeing any resolution,” Oramas said.

State inspection finds violation, notes dust control efforts

After hearing from businesses, WINK Investigates reached out to Lee County — which referred questions to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

The FDEP shared its latest inspection of the Coastal Waste facility, conducted in December 2025.

That inspection found a violation involving monitoring wells that were not properly maintained — including debris, overgrowth, and obstructions around the well sites.

The report also noted the facility has made recent changes aimed at controlling dust, including adding coverings over parts of the operation and installing sprinklers along the perimeter.

Inspectors documented that no dust was observed leaving the site on the day of inspection.

WINK Investigates asked the FDEP if they are willing to come back out to the property and inspect the facility/take air quality samples for testing. We are still waiting for a response back.

Companies respond, deny responsibility

WINK Investigates reached out to Coastal Waste and Recycling. In a statement, a spokesperson said, "Coastal Waste & Recycling, Inc. operates the Southwest Recycling & Transfer – Mainline facility, which processes construction materials, clean debris, wood, and horticultural waste. Since acquiring the property in October 2024, Coastal has completed a full‑site modernization, including installing a state‑of‑the‑art recycling system, constructing a 10,000‑square‑foot warehouse, and paving the entire five‑acre site, which previously contained large areas of exposed dirt and mulch."

The statement continued to say, "The facility operates under permits approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). These permitted operations include comprehensive dust control measures such as water cannons, street sweeping, screening systems, and perimeter buffers. The site is regularly inspected and remains in full compliance, with no violations or formal complaints."

The statement finished by stating, "We have maintained an open dialogue with our neighboring businesses and have consistently been responsive to any concerns or ideas they raise, addressing issues promptly and directly. The recent improvements at the Mainline facility are fully compliant with all regulations and should effectively address any past dust migration concerns."

The two other neighboring businesses denied responsibility.

A Waste Connections employee said in-part, "We simply bring material in and transfer it out; therefore, we don’t put it through a separating process which creates dust. Based on our review and daily operations, our activities are not contributing to the dust or debris reported in the area. We take environmental responsibility seriously and continue to comply with all applicable controls."

Waste Connections say they undergo annual inspections by the FDEP and say they are in compliance.

The email went on to say, "Activity occurring nearby, outside of our operations, may be a contributing factor, and we’re cooperating with all parties to help identify solutions. Any dust we do create is totally mitigated by our best practices as noted below. We have been operating this non- processing transfer station for 15 years and have never received a complaint."

They added, "We want the community to know that operating a clean, safe, and responsible facility is a top priority for us. We take concerns seriously, remain in full compliance with all regulatory requirements, and are committed to being a good neighbor by maintaining strong housekeeping practices and responding quickly to any issues."

The owner of Sosa’s Landscape Supplies, Francisco Sosa, told WINK Investigates via email in-part, "We would like to clarify that our company’s practices and materials do not produce dust. Sosa’s Landscape Supplies specializes in the sale of decorative rocks, mulch, and soil. At our company we do not manufacture or process these materials on-site, nor do we perform any construction-related work."

Sosa says his employees have also been impacted by the dust.

"We would also like to note that our employees’ health has been impacted by the dust concerns in the surrounding area. As a result, we have taken additional precautions, including the use of protective clothing, to ensure the safety and well-being of our team."

Sosa says his company has no complaints or communications from regulatory agencies like the FDEP.

Meanwhile, neighboring businesses say the impact of the dust is already being felt financially.

Kehl says several tenants have already left the plaza — and others are considering it.

“It’s just been a big mess,” he said. “We’re hoping to get something resolved with it at some point.”

WINK Investigates will continue to follow this story.