Letter: Compost services are vital

Long Island Compost is one of the most important, environmentally progressive and responsible companies in the region ["Address composting's dark side," Opinion, Feb. 20]. We perform an essential service, a municipal service for all Long Islanders. When your landscaper cuts your grass, or you rake you leaves, or your town's Highway Department removes the tree that fell in the storm, do you think the environmental fairies make it disappear? No, Long Island Compost rolls up its sleeves and goes to work. But we are coming under attack from the Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Brookhaven Community Coalition.

The Feb. 20 op-ed was full of mistruths and half-truths. The writers made unsubstantiated accusations about "eye-watering odors that prevent [neighbors] from going outside" and "blowing dust [that] forces them to use windshield wipers while driving." All nonsense.

For several years now, Long Island Compost has paid the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to provide a full-time monitor at our facility. In the 30 months leading up to June 2011, there were 239 complaints about our operation; 148 were from two neighbors, and a majority of the others were from their friends and family. The monitor verified exactly 12. That's an average of one violation every 2.5 months. Considering the enormous scope and the critical work of Long Island Compost, that is a commendable record indeed.

The op-ed states that a compost facility is "normally required" to be enclosed in a building. Again, this stretches the truth. Nationwide, almost without exception, yard waste compost facilities operate outdoors. The towns of Islip, Southold, Southampton and East Hampton all operate outdoor composting facilities.

As to groundwater issues, an investigation by the Suffolk County Health Services Department and state DEC is ongoing. Sampling by the state, and our own quality-control testing show no dangerous levels of contamination in our products. Our compost and mulches simply don't contain heavy metals or other questionable substances. The health department has stated, "The precise mechanism that is causing the elevated contaminant concentrations has not yet been determined" [News, Feb. 18]. For our critics to rush to judgment and impugn our company's reputation before the investigation is complete is absolutely irresponsible.

We will continue to proactively work with the DEC and town supervisor's office to effectuate a complete rethinking of how we recycle organic waste.

Charles Vigliotti, Yaphank

Editor's note: The writer is the chief executive of Long Island Compost.