Processed human waste will no longer be brought into Limestone County, Ala., for distribution as fertilizer on fields.

Monday, County Commission Chairman David Seibert said the county had “reached a settlement” with a company, Synagro Technologies, which early last fall drew complaints from northwest county residents who complained of a strong odor after the company spread the free bio-solids on fields there.

Synagro Technologies has a contract to dispose of human wastes from New York. The company, which operates with approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, treats sludge from wastewater plants in New York and ships it to Alabama by rail car. The sludge is treated at a plant in Leighton, and then offered at no charge to farmers in Limestone County to fertilize their fields. About 40 farmers signed up to receive the sludge.

In Georgia, a farmer’s cattle died and the milk from another farmer’s cattle was contaminated from contact with sludge-treated fields. Last week, a federal judge ordered the Agriculture Department to compensate a farmer whose land was poisoned by sludge from the waste treatment plant near Augusta. His cows had died by the hundreds.

In October, the county had reached an agreement with the company after seeking an injunction against Synagro. Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks said Synagro officials had assured him they would no longer distribute the fertilizer on pastureland. Where it is spread, it would have to be worked into the dirt instead of being placed on top of the soil.

The company said it would continue to take sludge to the most remote locations for applications and would make deliveries just before application to reduce odor concerns. Company officials also said they would alter transportation routes to avoid populated areas and schools and explore additional odor reduction measurers to include additional processing and the use of more lime to neutralize the odor.

However, Seibert said that “about three weeks ago” the county reached a further agreement with Synagro to stop hauling sludge into Limestone County entirely.

“It’s just been taken care of,” said Seibert. “A settlement has been reached and I cannot talk about it further.”

Karen Middleton writes for The New Courier in Athens, Ala.