Board of Health adopts emergency compost setback rule
The Granby Board of Health voted unanimously to adopt an emergency regulation requiring commercial composting operations that process meat, fish and dairy waste to keep piles at least 750 feet from any home, following months of rat complaints near a Taylor Street site.
Board of Health · Meeting of August 25, 2026
GRANBY — The Granby Board of Health voted unanimously to adopt an emergency regulation requiring commercial composting operations that process meat, fish and dairy waste to keep piles at least 750 feet from any home, following months of rat complaints near a Taylor Street site. Board member Bill said, "We wouldn't have the rats" if not for the meat and dairy waste being composted. The order, issued under M.G.L.
Chapter 111, Section 31 and effective immediately August 25, 2026, gives operators Matt Gilman and his partner Steve, who run Banana Compost on Red Fire Farm land, 30 days to secure a permit or relocate. Attorney Catherine Miss, representing the operators, argued her clients never received formal notice of prior board inquiries dating to May. The board also closed a nuisance complaint against a Griswold Circle homeowner after finding no health violation, and gave a Ken Lane homeowner until April 7, 2027, to replace a failed septic system.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
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- The complete report — 3,226 words
Source: the Board of Health meeting of August 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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