Lake County commissioners are moving forward with plans to sue the operator of a Mount Dora-area landfill and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection after years of complaints from nearby residents who say a persistent odor is disrupting their daily lives.
Commissioners voted unanimously this week to proceed with a lawsuit involving Mid Florida Landfill, located off Robie Avenue near the Sullivan Ranch community. Residents have long complained about a strong smell they describe as sulfur-like or similar to rotten eggs.
“It’s been forever. The smell has got to go,” one resident said. “I wake up and I can literally smell it in my house.”
A 2025 study by the city of Mount Dora identified Mid Florida Landfill as the source of the odor. The landfill is operated by Hubbard Construction.
Caleb Swallow, who lives at Sullivan Ranch near the landfill, has spoken publicly about the issue before, said the odor is noticeable near the neighborhood.
“It’s literally right behind the dump,” Swallow said. “You can smell it right now, just standing back here.”
Swallow said he believes state environmental regulators should be doing more.
“That’s actually the direction that I suggested that we take a long time ago, that we get rid of — or somehow get rid of — something to sue the FDEP to make them do their job,” he said.
County leaders said they have tried working with the landfill operator to address the issue, but complaints have continued. Residents said the problem has grown as the landfill has expanded and more neighborhoods have developed nearby.
“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,” resident Mandy Richardson said.
Neighbors and commissioners also have raised concerns about potential environmental impacts, including air quality and drinking water.
“The fear for the future of what that could hold for our drinking water and the air that we breathe is really frightening,” Richardson said. “It’s so critical now more than ever that the county and the city step in and put some regulations in place.”
The county’s legal action would target both Hubbard Construction and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
FDEP told News 6 “The department does not comment on pending litigation.”
We have reached out to the landfill operator for comment on the proposed lawsuit and what is being done to address the odor. This story will be updated when they respond.