A Laveen composting business is shutting down as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
According to Maricopa County, the operators of Growers Market agreed to resolve the matter by consenting to the County’s request that they be prohibited from operating a composting facility on the property at issue.
Growers Market further consented to a list of stringent County stipulations that will put a prompt end to the business’s operations and ensure the removal of the offending material.
The settlement reduces the time the property owner has to remove all mulching material by 9 days from an early administrative order. In the earlier administrative judgment, the business was required to vacate the premises by March 10, but now, the settlement specifies that the property must be vacated by March 1.
Effective immediately, no new composting material besides fuel to run the trucks and other equipment may be brought onto the property. Starting January 20, all grinding or screening of mulch material must cease and all related equipment must be removed from the property. Until the property is cleared, Growers Market is permitted to haul off remaining mulch and materials Monday though Friday between 7am and 5pm through the March 1st deadline. Growers Market must allow access to the property for regular inspections and provide weekly progress reports to the County. If Growers Market does not comply with the order, the operators will be personally liable for a penalty of $1,000 per day.
Inspections conducted in the last few months of 2024 led to the Board’s decision on December 11, which authorized the County Attorney’s Office to seek an injunction to enforce the zoning ordinance violation. The business still does not have the required special use permit to run a composting operation in a rural/residential zone.
