The province raided a compost company on Wednesday morning to ensure it was following a previously ordered environmental protection order.

After hundreds of complaints by nearby Whyte Ridge residents, Samborski Environmental was ordered to remove all compost from its site by December first of last year.

Provincial officials say they’ve been monitoring the situation, and chose to act when it became evident some waste remained.

The province obtained a search warrant to execute the raid.

Around 20 Manitoba Conservation Officers raided the property, taking samples and gathering evidence.

Lenn Samborski, co-owner of Samborski Environment, said the tactics were heavy handed.

"If they would have came and knocked at our door and said 'Lenn can we come on your property and do the soil tests', I would have said go right ahead. You didn't need the armed guards, which we have two people, armed guards here. We would have obliged," said Samborski.

Samborski said that only garden ready soil remained. He said that material does not give an unpleasant smell.

Samborski said immature material, which produces a stronger odour, was already moved to another site near the Perimeter Highway and Brady Road.

He wants to establish a permanent facility there, but an upcoming lawsuit could prevent that plan.

"Our big day is January 28th in court with the RM of MacDonald. And that's to do with the bad faith on the property in question," said Samborski.

Samborski said that the RM does not want his soil on the property, but he said there are bylaws in place that say it’s allowed.

The RM said it was working with the province on the matter. It said it couldn’t comment further on a matter before the courts.

Samborski Environmental could face another court date from the province from Wednesday’s raid.

“If they are determined to be still in non-compliance with the environmental protection order, there may be a prosecution that will result for violating the order and violating the environment act,” said Don Labossiere with Manitoba Conservation.

Labossiere said that could result in fines up to half a million dollars.