Public hearing set to discuss bad odor

The Laketown Township Planning Commission is holding a public hearing to address resident complaints about the odors coming from a composting operation at Republic Services, 4368 60^th St.

The hearing is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

The planning commission is dealing with the issue because development of the parcel was approved about a decade ago as a planned unit development which, according to the ordinance, falls under the jurisdiction of the planning commission for approval.

After the public hearing, the planning commission could consider modifying the agreement, terminating it, or continuing the special land use.

The odor

Residents have been complaining for the last 2 to 3 years about increased odors from Cocoa Corp., a composting operation on Republic’s property, 4368 60^th St. between the I-196 and U.S. 31 overpasses.

The state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Materials Management Division on April 17 found the composting facility in violation of requirements that it operate “in a manner that does not create a nuisance or a hazard to the environment, natural resources, or the public health, safety, or welfare and shall keep the facility clean and free of litter.”

The state notice addressed to Adam Brent, operator of Cocoa Corp., the composter, said nuisance odors are being generated from the composting facility onsite.

“In the past, odors have been detected from the site during other complaint responses, however, odors were not strong enough or did not persist for a sustained period to cite a nuisance odor violation,” the notice stated. “EGLE and Laketown Township have received complaints from residents and/or businesses to the north, east, and south of the facility throughout the past ten months.”

EGLE was onsite on April 17 for over 30 minutes and detected “strong foul odors.”

EGLE requested the company provide a plan and schedule to address the odor within 30 calendar days from April 27.

Brent has earlier acknowledged strong odors do come from the composting material, especially when the windrows – large piles of compost material — are turned, which they must be by state law five times in a 15-day period. The material is turned Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. but not on weekends.

The township sent a letter to Republic Services in March about the odor issue and the conditions in the 2016 planned unit development agreement that lists requirements and responsibilities of the operator.

In the planned unit development documents, the company said it would cover the compost piles. The piles have not been covered.

Documents also state the company will “maintain reasonable conditions regarding emission and transmission of injurious or obnoxious noise, fire … smoke, dust, dirt, litter, odor … and other similar considerations having an effect on public safety, and general welfare of the people of the surrounding area.”

The attorney asked Republic to advise what actions it plans to take to be in compliance, “so that the Township can monitor the odor issue and decide what if any enforcement and other legal action it must take at this time to protect itself and its residents.”

Reporting odors

Township officials toured the composting facility in October to see first-hand the source of the complaints. Township Manager Stephanie Fox has met with Republic, Cocoa and state officials about the issue.

The township has been directing complaints to EGLE.

To report an odor, record your address, the date of the smell, the time of the smell, the wind conditions and other relevant description such as whether it is a garbage-related odor or a compositing/organic odor so EGLE can identify a pattern and help determine if the source is the transfer station or the compost operation.

Send your complaint to office@laketowntwp.org. The township will send the complaint on to EGLE, and to Republic Services and Cocoa.

The public hearing

On June 3, the chairperson of the planning commission will call the public hearing to order and ask anyone in the meeting room to come to the podium, state their name and address and speak into the microphone for up to about 3 minutes about the odor. After everyone in the room has spoken, the chairperson will then ask if anyone on Zoom would like to speak.

Those on Zoom should wave, unmute themselves or turn on their video. The chairperson will acknowledge you. State your name and address and speak for up to about 3 minutes.

All comments should be addressed to the chairperson only.

Email comments may be sent to office@laketowntwp.org, attention to the planning commission.

Written comments may be sent to Laketown Township Planning Commission, 4338 Beeline Road, Holland, MI 49423.

All correspondence must be received by 4 p.m. June 3 to be considered for the public hearing.