A Florida woman’s worm farm in Palm Beach County was forced to shut down after local officials claimed she was breaking the law regarding trash ownership. Mel Corichi, the founder of Let it Rot, a worm farm and composting company, received a cease-and-desist letter from the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority in April 2022, alleging that she was running a waste management facility and collecting waste under the agency’s control.
Let it Rot, established to reduce organic waste in the local landfill and produce natural alternatives to fertilizers and pesticides, practiced vermicomposting. This process involves using worms to eat food scraps and produce high-quality fertilizer. The company even partnered with the local food bank to recycle its scraps.
Corichi had been collecting food scraps and organic waste from her customers and using them to feed her worms. However, according to the Solid Waste Authority, all solid waste generated in the county belongs to the Authority and must be delivered to their facilities. The agency threatened to fine Corichi $500 a day if she continued operating her composting business.
Despite explaining that she was an agriculture entity and not a waste processing facility, Corichi’s arguments were dismissed. The county maintained that businesses like hers were not allowed to operate in Palm Beach County. Corichi believes that the real issue is that her business was taking the same organic material that the county burns for energy.
The Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority operates waste-to-energy plants that process enough waste annually to power 85,000 homes. While the cease-and-desist letter didn’t mention energy production, the agency’s blog post stated that diverting food waste could undermine the financial stability of their system. The agency also claimed that no business, large or small, was authorized to compost food waste in the county as a competing entity.
Corichi has started an online petition to give county residents a choice in how their waste is processed, gathering nearly 3,600 signatures. She hopes to advocate for new laws that would allow her to continue her worm farming business. In the meantime, Corichi has decided to pursue a career as an insurance broker.
The case of the Florida woman’s worm farm being shut down highlights the clash between local entrepreneurs and government regulations. It raises questions about waste management policies and the authority’s control over solid waste. Corichi’s story also sheds light on the challenges faced by small businesses and their struggle to operate in a system dominated by big corporations.
Overall, the incident serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding waste management and the need for a more inclusive and flexible approach to address environmental concerns while supporting local businesses.
