Spent compost

The most exciting thing that happened at this month's West Marlborough Township meeting was a follow-up discussion about the mounds of spent mushroom soil that are being dumped south of Hood Road, near the high-tension wires. (You can see the big heaps if you look to the north while driving along Street Road east of the SECCRA landfill.) Neighbors have told the supervisors they are concerned about the truck traffic, the early-morning noise, and the possible environmental impact of the compost.
Although the person dumping the spent compost, Russell Jones Jr., has a plan to do so that has been approved by the Chester County Conservation District, township regulations define mushroom compost dumping as a "conditional use." This means Mr. Jones must appear before the township supervisors, and they can impose reasonable conditions on the activity.
The township's zoning officer, Al Giannantonio, told the supervisors he has informed Mr. Jones about the township regulation. He has been given 30 days, until Oct. 19, to apply to the township; if he does not, Mr. Giannantonio said he will issue an enforcement notice.