Concrete crushing resumes at Florida facility following permit surrender

Concrete crushing operations have resumed at a Sarasota, Florida, recycling company after surrendering its Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) air permit in December 2024. 

The surrender of U.S. Recycling’s permit meant the facility could no longer operate its crusher, which had been the target of complaints from nearby residents and businesses. As reported by news station WFLA, homeowners have complained of dust covering their cars, homes, trees and roadways. 

By Jan. 14, the crusher had been removed from the property. In turn, U.S. Recycling hired a mobile concrete crushing company based in Tampa to perform its crushing. WFLA reports the operator has its own state permit for the crushing unit and notified the state about its work in Sarasota. 

The mobile crushing company’s owner says this is his third time crushing concrete for the Sarasota company and stressed that employees are “extremely cautious” of dust associated with the job and use water to keep it at bay. 

City commissioners were alerted of the resumed operations by residents. Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson said at a commissioners’ meeting that the property’s zoning permit allows for the continuance of crushing operations.

City officials have revisited complaints toward U.S. Recycling multiple times over the last five years and believed the surrender of the company’s permit would usher in a new chapter for the property. Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch tells WFLA there were hopes the property would be sold and redeveloped for affordable housing. 

The concrete crushing company’s operations will remain “top of mind,” she adds, noting that the county will continue to monitor the situation.