September 11, 2026 — An incident report details a family’s discovery of glass and plastics within compost purchased from Recology Aumsville, leading to a child potentially cutting her foot.
Product Details
Product: Recology Na
Incident Overview
On August 20, 2026, a consumer reported purchasing compost from Recology in Aumsville, Oregon. After it was spread and watered, they noticed an abundance of glass, hard plastics, and plastic films included. One of their children may have stepped on glass and cut her foot.
Safety Concerns
The presence of foreign materials like glass and various plastics in garden compost raises significant safety concerns for consumers:
- Immediate Dangers: Sharp objects like glass can cause severe lacerations, puncture wounds, and other traumatic injuries to anyone handling the compost, especially children playing in the garden or pets. Hard plastics could also cause similar injuries, while plastic films pose a choking hazard to small children or pets if ingested.
- Long-Term Risks: Cuts and punctures carry the risk of infection, especially if the wound comes into contact with soil-borne bacteria. Furthermore, the introduction of non-biodegradable plastics into garden beds can lead to environmental contamination, potentially affecting soil quality and plant health over time. Microplastics, which break down from larger plastic pieces, can persist in the environment for decades.
- Who Might Be Affected: Gardeners, landscapers, children playing in yards where the compost has been spread, and household pets are all at risk of injury.
- Property Damage Potential: Sharp debris can damage gardening tools, rototillers, and other lawn care equipment. Contaminated compost can also degrade the quality of garden soil, potentially harming plants or requiring extensive remediation.
What Consumers Should Do
If you have purchased compost from Recology or any other supplier and suspect it may contain hazardous foreign materials:
- Immediately Stop Use: Cease using the product and prevent access to the area where it has been spread, especially by children and pets.
- Inspect with Caution: If you need to inspect the compost, wear thick gloves, sturdy shoes, and use tools to avoid direct contact with potentially hazardous materials. Do not attempt to sift through large quantities by hand without proper protective equipment.
- Contain the Product: If possible, carefully gather and contain the suspected contaminated compost to prevent further spread or exposure.
- Seek Medical Attention: If you or anyone in your household has sustained an injury, seek medical attention promptly.
- Report the Incident:
- Contact the Manufacturer: Reach out to Recology Inc. directly to report the issue and provide details of your purchase.
- Contact the Retailer: Inform Recology Aumsville (or wherever you purchased the product) about the contamination.
- Report to CPSC: File a report with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at SaferProducts.gov. Your report helps identify dangerous products and can lead to recalls and improved safety standards.
Manufacturer’s Response
On September 15, 2026, Recology Inc. responded to the incident report, stating: “Recology Oregon Compost takes product safety issues very seriously. We routinely test representative samples of our compost for inert material, in accordance with applicable industry standards. We have contacted the customer who filed the complaint and are working to resolve the situation.”
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
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Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.