Dive Brief:

• A US District Court judge in Indiana ordered the operators of a wood-recycling facility to close the site in the next five years. In addition, the recycling plant must be cleaned up.
• 1,800 residents in the Elkhart, IL community launched a class action lawsuit against Soil Solutions, the company responsible for the site’s current operations, due to allegations of dust and fumes. Residents contend their exposure to the waste prompted health concerns and lowered their standard of living. 
• According to the settlement, Soil Solutions is legally responsible to submit quarterly and annual reports detailing the remaining waste on the site.

Dive Insight:

The terms of the settlement include the removal of all wood waste from the site. The plant must be closed by July of 2019. A restrictive covenant must be secured, effectively preventing similar businesses from opening at the site after the facility is shuttered.