A growing number of Sumter County residents are voicing outrage on social media over a persistent and putrid odor believed to be originating from the Heart of Florida Landfill, with some now questioning what further steps can be taken to mitigate the smell.

The foul smell, which has reportedly plagued neighborhoods within a 12-mile radius of the landfill since late December 2024, is said to impact parts of central and southern Sumter County, including newer developments in The Villages such as Middleton. Affected residents claim the stench is so overpowering it seeps into homes, disrupts daily life and has left some unable to enjoy time outdoors.

(A poster with a plee put out by Sumter County resident Andrew Leibenguth was being shared around social media.)

One resident, Andrew Leibenguth, who lives approximately two miles from the site, expressed his frustration in a public statement on Facebook.

“The smell is, yet again, preventing me from enjoying the outside,” he says. “I smelled it under my sheets in my bed. I stirred and burnt human waste in Iraq. The Lake Pan smell is many times worse. This is beyond unacceptable. It’s time to hold those accountable.”

(The Waste Facility in question Heart of Florida is located in what used to be a fairly low populated area. But with the expansion of The Villages and other communities, the stench is becoming very notable.)

We reached out to Heart of Florida for comment but they did not immediately respond. We also reached out to City of Bushnell City Manager Michael Eastburn and he was also unavailable. We even reached out to Florida EPA and they also were unavailable.

According to another post by resident Lucy Jones, she recently spoke to a county commissioner who told her, “The odor is coming from the privately-owned landfill off CR 470, east of I-75, which falls under the City of Bushnell’s jurisdiction. They have no authority and advised her to keep going to City of Bushnell meetings.”

Lucy has gone as far as writing written complaints to Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), where she described what was happening.

“I described the strong, chemical-like stench that is burning my eyes, throat, tongue and face, causing breathing issues and coughing even inside my home,” she says. “My dog is also showing symptoms. I request immediate investigation and air quality testing.”

With no answers provided, residents continue to grow frustrated at the lack of communication about what is being done about the stench. With no answers coming from Heart of Florida Landfill, there are many questions being raised to what can be done. Some have brought up class action lawsuits while others have said to continue to contact local commissioners.

“I even invested in an air purifier for my house, hoping it would help but it’s been a waste of money,” Lucy says. “The smell is so strong and invasive that it has made no difference. I feel our health has been put at serious risk, and who knows what we’re inhaling or ingesting.”

Residents are frustrated and continue to press for answers and accountability especially online. It is worth noting that while the landfill is viewed as an issue, there is also CompostUSA located right next to the landfill which also creates a smell.

With thousands of residents continuing to pour into Florida, the waste facilities are only expected to see more waste and trash in the coming years. What do you think should be done about this issue? Let us know in the comments below.