Debate rages over closing Manorville compost site

In a debate that reflects residents' concerns about air quality in two neighborhoods, Brookhaven Town leaders are considering whether to shutter the town's public composting facility in Manorville.

Councilman Dan Panico, who represents Manorville, has proposed closing the 33-acre Papermill Road facility - a move he says would save taxpayers about $400,000 per year.

But Councilwoman Connie Kepert opposes the closure, saying it would generate more business for Long Island Compost, which operates a 62-acre facility in Yaphank that she and other officials have accused of emitting excessive odors and particulate matter. Kepert represents Yaphank.

Long Island Compost representatives have said they are working to reduce odor and dust at their site. But at a recent public meeting, several Yaphank residents said they opposed any resolution that could give Long Island Compost more business.

"Moving the problem from Manorville to Yaphank, that's not going to solve the problem here," said Chris Broszeit.

At the same meeting - where several residents held signs that read, "Stop dumping on us" - some Manorville residents said the Manorville facility also emits foul odors, and should be closed. Others said the air quality at both facilities needs to be improved.

The Manorville facility "is right in the smack middle of a residential neighborhood," said Christopher Kreiling, who said he recently moved to Mastic seeking better air quality. "We want this dump closed."

The town board is scheduled to vote Oct. 19 on whether to close the Manorville facility, which processes raw materials such as leaves and yard waste into compost.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is working with Suffolk County to complete a report about the impact of composting on air quality. A draft accuses Long Island Compost of emitting foul odors at a level almost four times greater than the state guideline. The Manorville facility is slightly above the state standard, the draft says.

Long Island Compost president Charles Vigliotti said his facility is not a public health hazard, and added that closing the Manorville facility would add at most "a tiny amount of materials" to the Yaphank plant. Long Island Compost is permitted to handle more than 70,000 tons of material a year; the Manorville site takes in 3,000 tons, town officials said.

But Kepert said she believes closing Manorville would give Long Island Compost "a monopoly" on Brookhaven composting. "It would make them the only game in town," she said.

Panico said he is "trying hard to not make this Manorville against Yaphank." Closing Manorville would save all taxpayers money, he said.

"It's not the people of Yaphank shouldn't have relief, it's that the people of Manorville should have relief also," he said.