Years of 'rotten egg' smell in Florida prompt county to move against landfill

Residents near the Mid Florida Landfill have reported a persistent rotten-egg smell for years. (Photo: News 6)Residents living near a landfill in Florida have been complaining about a persistent rotten-egg-like smell for years, claiming it has disrupted their daily lives and raised concerns about the quality of the air they breathe and the water they drink. Now, Lake County commissioners are taking legal action against the landfill operator and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) over the issue.According to a report by WKMG News 6, commissioners unanimously voted to move forward with a lawsuit involving Mid Florida Landfill near Mount Dora. The facility, located off Robie Avenue near the Sullivan Ranch community, is operated by Hubbard Construction.The decision comes after years of complaints from nearby residents, who say the strong odour has become increasingly difficult to tolerate. Some have described it as resembling sulfur or rotten eggs, claiming that it can be detected even inside their homes.Residents say unbearable landfill odour is affecting daily lifeLake County commissioners have voted to pursue legal action over complaints linked to the Mount Dora-area landfill. (Photo: News 6)Residents of Sullivan Ranch say the smell has become a persistent problem, affecting their everyday routines and making it difficult to enjoy their homes.One resident told News 6 that the odour had been an ongoing issue for a long time, adding that it was noticeable even inside the house after waking up.Caleb Swallow, who lives in the Sullivan Ranch neighbourhood near the landfill, has also spoken publicly about the problem. Pointing to the facility, he told the news outlet, "It's literally right behind the dump. You can smell it right now, just standing back here."Swallow believes state environmental regulators should take stronger action to address the situation. He said he had previously suggested that the county consider legal action against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to ensure it fulfils its regulatory responsibilities.2025 study identifies landfill as source of the smellThe complaints eventually prompted the City of Mount Dora to investigate the source of the persistent odour. A 2025 study identified the Mid Florida Landfill as the likely source of the widespread smell affecting nearby communities.Despite the findings, residents say the problem has continued, with the situation becoming more noticeable as the landfill has expanded and new residential developments have come up in the surrounding area.Mandy Richardson, another Sullivan Ranch resident, told News 6 that the complaints had increased because of the landfill's growing size and the expansion of nearby communities."The complaints are getting much worse because the dump has just grown and grown in size, and there's more development, so there's more communities being affected than just ours," she said.Residents raise concerns about air quality and drinking waterA 2025 study identified the landfill as the likely source of the odour reported by residents. (Photo: News 6)Apart from the unpleasant smell, residents and county commissioners have expressed concerns about the landfill's potential environmental impact, particularly on air quality and drinking water.Richardson said the possibility of contamination was frightening for families living in the area and called on local authorities to introduce stronger regulations."The fear for the future of what that could hold for our drinking water and the air that we breathe is really frightening," she told the news outlet. She added that it was critical for the county and city to step in and address the concerns.The proposed lawsuit is intended to push for action against the landfill operator as well as the state environmental regulator. County leaders have said their efforts to work with the operator have not brought the issue to a satisfactory resolution.What have the landfill operator and Florida authorities said?The Florida Department of Environmental Protection told News 6 that it does not comment on pending litigation.The landfill operator, Hubbard Construction, had not responded to News 6's request for comment on the proposed lawsuit at the time of its report.However, the company had previously defended its operations. In an earlier statement reported by WESH in 2025, Hubbard Construction said its facility remained in compliance with applicable environmental regulations and that it worked closely with state regulators and inspectors. The company also disputed allegations concerning odour and erosion control.With commissioners now agreeing unanimously to pursue legal action, residents hope the move will finally bring relief to neighbourhoods that have dealt with the persistent smell for years.