On a Breezy Day, US Recycling Dust Covers Most of Sarasota – CCNA Air Quality Committee Findings

CCNA’s Air Quality Committee did a review of how far concrete dust travels.  On simply a “breezy day”, it’s 1 km.  On a “windy day” it’s 3 km.   What does that mean for Sarasota Neighborhoods? 

The committee created a map identifying affected areas with the hazardous range of the dust.  Ron Kashden, Chair says ” It is very disconcerting when you layer it all together; it’s a city-wide issue.”

Background: For over five years, established residential neighborhoods adjacent to US Recycling’s cement crushing facility have been exposed to a variety of health risks.  

During that period, City and County agencies have diligently attempted to address ongoing environmental and health concerns resulting from the operations. For example, the City has invested over $400,000 in roadway improvements alone in an effort to mitigate the scattering of truck debris, while the County has conducted more than 20 air quality inspections. Even with this effort, the facility continues to have a detrimental effect on the community.

A Possible Light at the End of the Tunnel:  All that will change with McDowell Partners’ transformative plan to purchase US Recycling and build 158 affordable workforce housing units. With rents targeted for households earning between 30% and 70% of the area median income, this will directly address the area’s urgent housing needs and advance the County’s workforce housing initiative.

On November 27th Cathy Antunes had Ron Kashden on her talk show, The Detail, on WSLR public radio. They discussed both US Recycling and the harm it’s causing the community as well as the benefits of McDowell’s workforce housing project. Here is the link to the show: https://youtu.be/tSKVzBKcWvc 

An important portion of the funding for the project will come from the Resilient SRQ funds that will be allocated on Dec 16th by the Sarasota County Commission.  Community support is essential factor in determining the allocation for the grant.

Please join over 240 others that have completed the survey at: Petition to replace US Recycling.