BUSINESS TROUBLES
Five horse manure haulers are accusing two Palm Beach County municipalities of unfairly steering business to a competitor, according to a letter obtained by WFLX.
The companies, which handle an estimated 50,000 tons of horse manure in the area, say recent regulatory actions could put them out of business. Their concerns focus on a company called Agricultural Blending Company (ABC).
The accusations come after records showed that Village of Wellington staff helped the company’s owner develop the business and lobby on its behalf to work around local zoning rules.
In their letter, the haulers claim that operations serving equestrian facilities are being directed — either explicitly or implicitly — to take manure to a single private facility (ABC), even though multiple farms legally accept manure for agricultural use.
The Village of Wellington denies these claims. Officials say regulations are applied uniformly and are not intended to benefit or harm any specific business. The village manager also stated they remain open to discussions with haulers and other stakeholders.
One hauler, Justin Hickey, said he is no longer allowed to deliver unprocessed manure directly to farms and must instead use a list of approved facilities. These facilities can charge dumping fees ranging from $15,000 to $20,000. He questioned why his company cannot perform the same processing or deliver directly to farms.
The issue is tied to broader concerns involving Agricultural Blending Company, which is owned by Matthew Bellissimo. The land where the company operates is owned by his father, Mark Bellissimo, a well-known developer in Wellington.
The dispute follows earlier findings that local officials had helped outline a business plan for handling horse manure in Wellington, including potential locations, costs, and profits, while also noting zoning challenges for such facilities.
