A local company created after its owner was trying to find an inexpensive way to feed his chickens may be in line for a county composting project in western Broward County.
Filthy Organics, headed by Dustin Dubois, is proposing to build a facility on county-owned property at 7101 SW 205th Ave., near the outskirts of Southwest Ranches. The facility would process tons of yard waste, from grass clippings to trimmed trees, for conversion to compost.
The company sent an unsolicited offer to the county in May, and it’s on the agenda for discussion at the commission’s next budget workshop on Aug. 20.
County Administrator Monica Cepero said in a memo to commissioners that the body could open up the proposal for competitive bidding or try to engage Filthy Organics directly through an open hearing process.
Either way, she said, the idea is in keeping with the county’s ongoing effort to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills, which are quickly running out of room.
“If properly structured,” Cepero said, “a composting operation could help extend landfill life through diversion, explore beneficial reuse of organic material, create finished compost products that could be used for County parks, landscaping, and other public purposes, increase recycling rates and support broader sustainability and circular-economy goals.”
Dubois said he started Filthy Organics in 2020 when he had trouble finding inexpensive organic feed for chickens. Today the company provides composting services to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Florida Panthers, among other local businesses.
“We’re talking about the kind of waste that’s fairly easy to recycle,” he said.
The county’s Solid Waste Authority is still waiting to put the finishing touches on the adoption of its master plan, a major effort to significantly reduce the amount of trash Broward sends to landfills and increase what is recycled and converted for further use, such as compost.
Cepero said in her memo that the Filthy Organics projects fits seemlessly with the Solid Waste Authority’s master plan.
“We’re excited about helping the Solid Waste Authority meet its goals,” said Dubois.
The company wants to lease about 8 acres of the sprawling property.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.