Complaint ID 94600 — Public Copy

Landfill weigh tickets and recovered materials records were submitted via email from Cowart Mulch Products (attached). No further action. Recommend closure.

9:30 AM - Scheduled meeting at Cowart Mulch Products in Barrow County. I met with the following people: Owner Chris Cowart Rhett Marlow, VP Cowart Mulch Products Wayne King, Erth Products The fire was out. There was the remaining fire impacted mulch and plastics (waste). Mr. Cowart explained the fire department has requested he dispose of the fire waste. Mr. Cowart requested approval for disposal from EPD. A letter was issued the same day for disposal (attached).

9:18 AM - I arrived at Cowart Mulch Products meeting with Lt. Rinke. My third visit was to again observe reported trash burning. The smoke on the previous day was too bad. Please see the attached Trip Report (TR) for further details.

9:58 AM - I arrived at the Cowart Mulch Products meeting with Lieutenant Joseph Rinke of the Barrow County Fire Department. My second visit was to observe reported trash within the material burning. Please see the attached Trip Report (TR) for further details. I spoke with Nancy Harris in the afternoon explaining the fire was at a facility called Cowart Mulch Products. There was no fire at Patrick Inert Landfill. The fire department has started putting the fire out.

11:56 AM - I spoke with caller Nancy Harris. She said she noticed the smoke / fire Saturday early evening (10/3/2020). The flames were so high that the night sky was glowing. The smoke has been bad and getting in the house. Her neighbor has noticed it too. I told her I will be going to the facility now and ended call. 12:05 PM - I arrived at Patrick Inert Landfill located at 655 Patrick Industrial Drive, Winder, Georgia. I did not notice any smoke indicating a fire. I spoke with Joel Ashe who was in-charge and manning the weigh / intake-in house. I told him there was a report of a fire at Patrick Inert Landfill. He said he was not aware of a fire here. Mr. Ashe said I may want to ask the two guys a the picnic table outside if they know anything. I told him I would ask them, and I would need to look at the site before I leave. I approached the two gentlemen sitting outside. One worked at the landfill and the other, Shannon Maddox, was a contractor doing work there. Mr. Maddox explained he thinks the fire is at a place called Cowart Mulch, and it may have started Saturday. It is still burning. He looked up the address on his phone and gave me directions. I drove to the top of the inert landfill mound. I did not see any indication of fire or smoke. The landfill property is not very large. I felt confident there was no fire at Patrick Inert Landfill. I departed at 12:25 PM to go to Cowart Mulch. 12:35 PM - I arrived at Cowart Mulch Products located at 1185 Barrow Industrial Pkwy, Auburn, GA. There was an active fire with flame and smoke. I wore a facemask as a Covid-19 precaution. Please see the attached Trip Report (TR) for complaint investigation details. TR covers three (3) site visits (October 6-8, 2020.