St. Augustine Residents File Over 1,200 Odor Complaints Against Biomass Facility

Residents residing west of St. Augustine, Florida, near the city's historic Spanish fort and beaches, are grappling with a persistent and overwhelming foul odor, primarily attributed to the operations of Indianhead Biomass Services. The issue, which has drawn national attention, has led to numerous complaints from the affected communities. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, one resident described the pervasive smell, stating, > "This odor…will blast you—and your nose just starts dripping."

The source of the pervasive stench is identified as Indianhead Biomass Services, a facility that processes yard waste and treated human waste, known as biosolids, into compost. Located off County Road 214, approximately two miles from the Morgan’s Cove neighborhood, the plant's composting process is acknowledged by its spokesperson, Heather Lane Neville, as capable of generating odors. The facility has been operating since 2007 as a yard waste site, with biosolid operations commencing in 2018.

The foul smell, often described by residents as resembling human feces, has significantly impacted the quality of life for thousands in West Augustine and surrounding new construction communities. Between January 2023 and February 2025, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) received over 700 complaints from Morgan’s Cove residents alone, with total complaints exceeding 1,200. Residents report canceling outdoor activities and experiencing respiratory and sinus issues, prompting the formation of community groups like "Stop the Stink St. Augustine" and a related Facebook group.

While the FDEP has identified Indianhead Biomass as the source of the odor and issued a consent order for violations including excessive odors and unauthorized waste handling, residents express frustration over a perceived lack of enforcement. Indianhead Biomass maintains that its operations are legal and environmentally vital, stating they are working on solutions such as lowering compost pile heights and using additional wood chips. A change in state law in 2023 reportedly removed the county's direct jurisdiction over airborne odors from biosolid operations, placing full enforcement responsibility on the FDEP.

The ongoing odor dispute has attracted the attention of renowned environmental activist Erin Brockovich, who criticized the response that dismisses residents' complaints as "subjective." In June, Sonya Fry, an elementary school paraprofessional who founded "Stop the Stink St. Augustine," and five neighbors filed a lawsuit against Indianhead, alleging nuisance and negligence and seeking to block a permit for biosolid processing. This local conflict mirrors broader national challenges concerning the management and disposal of treated human waste.