MARYSVILLE — An Everett composting company has agreed to pay more than $785,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging it was responsible for bad smells.

Cedar Grove Composting also would spend $1.45 million to reduce the potential for malodorous emissions.

A judge will decide whether to approve the settlement.

Letters were sent to people who might be eligible for a portion of the settlement, including those who’ve lived within two miles of the compost operation at 3620 36th Place on Smith Island.

For years, neighbors complained about the smell, and they took their case to court.

Cedar Grove won a lawsuit in 2017 in a case brought by a Marysville man complaining about the odors.

In agreeing to settle, Cedar Grove denied wrongdoing. It said in court papers that it wanted to end the litigation “to avoid the cost, expense, inconvenience, uncertainty, distraction, time and effort.”

Company spokeswoman Karen Dawson said it was the best way to bring an end to the matter. Settlement funds will be distributed to everyone who qualifies and files the proper paperwork, she added.

Cedar Grove has invested millions of dollars in odor-control technology, including a synthetic cover to contain portions of the operation linked to some of the smells. Odor complaints were down to two this summer, Dawson said.

Potential clients to the settlement can send questions to info@ldclassaction.com.