Frequently Asked Questions
1. “Why is this next to our neighborhood?”
Answer:
“This site has been here for years as a permitted biosolids composting facility. What’s changed is the growth around it. We’re proposing to modernize the existing operation because people now live closer—and that requires a higher standard than what was originally built.”
2. “Why not move it somewhere else?”
Answer:
“Relocating doesn’t eliminate impacts—it moves them to another community. This site already has buffers, access, and a long history of this use. Improving an existing site avoids creating a new problem somewhere else while reducing impacts here.”
3. “It already smells. Why should we trust this won’t be worse?”
Answer:
“The proposed system is enclosed and specifically designed to capture and treat odor.
Just as important—doing nothing means the current system continues exactly as it is. This transition is how we reduce odor risk, not increase it.”
4. “Is this expanding the facility?”
Answer:
“No. This is about changing how the material is processed, not expanding the footprint into new areas. The goal is to improve operations within the existing site.”
5. “Is this safe for our health?”
Answer:
“Yes. Facilities like this are regulated and designed to meet strict environmental and health standards. The modernized system actually reduces exposure risks compared to open-air methods by containing and controlling the process.”
6. “What does ‘solar-powered’ actually mean?”
Answer:
“It means the facility will incorporate solar energy to offset operational power use. It reduces the overall environmental footprint—but the biggest day-to-day change for neighbors is the move to enclosed processing.”
7. “Is this privatization? Are you handing this off?”
Answer:
“No. The County retains ownership and oversight. The private partner operates the facility under strict, enforceable performance standards.
In simple terms:
The County owns it. The operator is held accountable to meet measurable requirements.”
8. “What happens if it doesn’t perform like you say?”
Answer:
“Under the partnership structure, performance standards are enforceable. If those standards aren’t met, there are consequences built into the agreement.
That’s actually stronger accountability than exists today.”
9. “Why wasn’t this addressed before homes were built?”
Answer:
“Growth in St. Johns County has happened quickly, and in many cases development has moved closer to long-standing infrastructure. The responsible step now is to upgrade those facilities to match current conditions—not ignore the change.”
10. “Will this increase truck traffic?”
Answer:
“The goal is to reduce long-haul trucking by processing more efficiently on-site. There may be changes during construction, but long-term operations are designed to be more efficient than what exists today.”
11. “Why should we support this?”
Answer:
“You don’t have to ‘support’ it to understand the choice.
The choice is:
Keep current operations as they are today
Or modernize the site to reduce impacts and increase accountability