AMERICAN FORK, Utah -- A popular spot for Utah County residents to dump their green waste has been temporarily closed.
The Timpanogos Special Services District in American Fork closed their gates Monday for the first time in 20 years.
"We won't be accepting the green waste drop off until we can get caught up," said Jon Adams, district manager. "With what's coming in we can't use it fast enough in the composting process to keep ahead of it."
According to Adams, they had unusual spring weather, which has led to an abnormally high abundance of green waste. He said keeping too much at the facility can be dangerous.
"The biggest danger is fire danger -- it generates heat and on a day in the 90s after a rainstorm it can take off," Adams said.
The other big concern is the odor that the waste could produce.
"You've probably smelled grass and what it can do if you leave it in your own garbage can, I mean it gets pretty rank," Adams said.
Residents living in nearby Pleasant Grove have already been complaining about the facility's composting process.
"When you walk over a sewer grate it smells like you're on top of it constantly," said one resident.
"It's annoying because it feels like you're not cleaning your house properly and you're looking for what's wrong and nothing is wrong with your home so it has to be something else," said Adeline Rosaro.
"If they could get rid of the smell it would be awesome, it would be even a better place to live than it already is," said Ryan Whittle.
TSSD said they expect the suspension on green waste to continue for at least two months. There is one other location in the county, at the North Point facility, where residents can drop off their waste for a fee.
