Solving a messy problem

Officials approve plan to recycle horse manure

Palm Beach County is taking a new approach toward solving a messy problem — getting rid of tens of thousands of pounds of horse manure that pile up during equestrian and polo events.

County commissioners voted Monday to begin a pilot program that will allow up to four horse waste recycling sites to operate in rural western Palm Beach County.

These sites will likely be the first horse manure recycling locations in Florida, county officials say.

Wellington is a world-renowned destination for equestrian and polo events. The equestrian season provides an economic boost to Palm Beach County from January to April, but it has also led to excessive dumping with pockets of farmland sometimes getting filled 4 to 5 feet deep with manure.

“We are having thousands of tons dumped illegally,” Commissioner Melissa McKinlay said.

Traditionally horse waste and bedding have been composted, burned or tilled into the soil in sugar cane fields. Environmentalists have expressed concerns that spreading so much manure in sugar cane fields could adversely affect water quality in the Everglades.

Now, officials hope to lure private firms that will repurpose horse manure into new products, such as fire logs or fuel.

“This will allow the private sector to come forth with their new technologies and allow us to solve this problem,” said Michael O’Dell, who handles equine issues for Wellington.

Next month, commissioners will consider a proposal from Horizon Composting to build a recycling facility about eight miles east of Belle Glade. Other proposals are expected to be submitted in coming months.

Commissioner Mack Bernard cast the sole dissenting vote against the measure, saying he worries the manure recycling facilities could be too close to residents.

But McKinlay, who represents the area, said she would never support placing such an operation close to where people live.

“This is certainly not going to be in any residential backyards,” she said.