What’s that smell? Cedar Grove Composting Everett

You may have seen recent TV or newspaper stories regarding a series of odor complaints in the Marysville area. As a business in the North Sound since 2004, Cedar Grove takes pride in being a good North Sound neighbor and business. I want to let you know that we take this issue very seriously.

You may have seen recent TV or newspaper stories regarding a series of odor complaints in the Marysville area. As a business in the North Sound since 2004, Cedar Grove takes pride in being a good North Sound neighbor and business. I want to let you know that we take this issue very seriously.

During the last five years of operations at our Everett site, up until June of this year, we had only one unverified odor complaint as documented by Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA).

Since our founding in 1989 we have diverted 4 million tons of organic material from the landfill, preventing 3.72 million metric tons (C02e) of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of removing approximately 670,000 cars from the road. Each year, Cedar Grove recycles 350,000 tons of organic material collected from local homes and businesses — a rate of one million pounds per day. By transforming organics into compost we are diverting material from landfills and helping local and state governments meet their ambitious recycling goals.

Recently, there have been complaints of a strong odor in the Marysville area. We are working with the PSCAA to identify what part our Everett facility has played in creating this odor. We have determined that there are a number of contributors to the odor, including: low tides, waste water sewage treatment facilities, agricultural odors from manure spreading and irrigation, other yard waste, bark and manure handling facilities near and adjacent to our Everett facility. To help address the current odor concerns in the Marysville area, we have stationed an odor inspector in the area to provide daily information on odor sources. We also monitor our computerized weather station that records data daily to verify potential odor conditions.

It is very important to know that any odors emanating from our facilities are not toxic or harmful. Odors from composting facilities generally have an earthy smell, much like a forest floor. We do not receive or process raw manure. Odors from our facilities do not smell like cow or chicken manure.

We welcome visitors to our facility and would like the opportunity to provide anyone with a tour. Also, I encourage you to call us if you suspect an odor was generated at our facility. We will investigate reports immediately. Our Everett site can be reached at 425-212-2515.

Steve Banchero, President