The organization can’t find the controversial plant’s former owner.
By Noah Bookstein
Original Air Date: September 3 2026
Host: Environmental watchdog group Suncoast Waterkeeper dropped its lawsuit against the operator of a controversial concrete crushing plant near downtown Sarasota. WSLR News reporter Noah Bookstein has the story.
Noah Bookstein: The lawsuit against US Recycling Company and owner Christopher Williams has been dismissed without prejudice, according to Suncoast Waterkeeper attorney Justin Bloom.
Photos by Noah Bookstein
Suncoast Waterkeeper—whose mission is to protect and improve local waterways through science-driven action—brought the suit to enforce the Clean Water Act after documenting significant pollution from concrete crushing operations entering nearby waterways. Under Williams, US Recycling operated at a site off Central Avenue near Sarasota’s Rosemary District without a permit or proper environmental precautions.
Runaway dust from the site polluted the surrounding air and water, especially during rain events, when it washed into local waterways. Silica dust in particular can cause severe respiratory problems when inhaled. In the water, fine sediment like this can also settle over riverbeds and cloud the water, blocking sunlight and reducing the oxygen produced by aquatic plants—and it can clog fish gills.
After the lawsuit was filed, Williams administratively dissolved US Recycling, then sold the site for $1.5 million to a new group now operating under the name Central Sarasota Recycling. Dissolving the company made it harder for Suncoast Waterkeeper to hold Williams accountable—but because the suit was dismissed without prejudice, Waterkeeper is free to serve US Recycling and Williams again.
The problem is finding him. Bloom, who is also a co-founder and board member of Suncoast Waterkeeper, told WSLR News that Williams appears to have moved away, and Waterkeeper has been unable to locate him. The organization even hired a firm to run a skip trace—a search process often used by investigators and debt collectors that pulls together public records, credit data and other sources to track down someone who’s changed addresses or otherwise gone missing. Bloom says that, unless they can locate and serve Williams, Waterkeeper is unlikely to bring a new action against US Recycling.
Location of the US Recycling concrete crushing plant at the south end of the Cocoanut-Central neighborhood
Meanwhile, Central Sarasota Recycling continues operating at the site. The new operator is run by Feliciano Morales and his associates, who are also part of Tampa-based DGPS Construction. Heriberto Reyes, a representative for DGPS Construction, previously told WSLR News that the company’s goal is to operate the property responsibly, maintain open communication with the neighborhood and run operations in a safe, environmentally responsible and legally compliant way.
When asked about the Suncoast Waterkeeper suit, Reyes said his organization has not been involved in communications regarding legal matters involving another company. Bloom confirmed Waterkeeper has had no contact with the new operator but says the group is continuing to monitor the site for pollution and permit compliance. If violations turn up under the new ownership, Bloom says Suncoast Waterkeeper would first reach out to try to resolve the issue directly and would only consider a new Clean Water Act enforcement action if that did not work.
For now, Central Sarasota Recycling appears to hold all the necessary permits to operate at the site, including for the mobile crusher, which is permitted through a separate company, Power Screen of Florida.
The new operator has also made significant stormwater improvements, including re-engineering the site to better retain runoff, relocating industrial operations away from sensitive areas and adding drainage structures at the entrance and exit. Track-out mats have also been placed at the main exit to reduce pollution from trucks carrying material off-site in their tire treads.
Reporting for WSLR News, Noah Bookstein.
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