Sections 17854 through 17862.1 set forth the regulatory tier requirements (Title 14, Division 7, Chapter 5., Article 3.0, commencing with section 18100 or Title 27, Division 2, Subdivision 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 3, Articles 2, 3 and 3.1 (commencing with section 21570) of the California Code of Regulations) for compostable material handling operations and facilities. These requirements are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

Compostable Material Handling Operations and Facilities

Placement into the Regulatory Tiers

Excluded Tier

Enforcement Agency Notification Tier

Registration Permit Tier

Full Solid Waste Facility Permit

Refer to Section 17855

Agricultural Material Composting Operations (all) Section 17856.

Composting Facilities (all) (e.g. biosolids, digestate, food material, mixed material) Section 17854.

Green Material Composting Operations (≤ 12,500 yd³) Section 17857.1(a)

Vegetative Food Material Composting Facilities (≤ 12,500 yd³) Section 17857.2

Green Material Composting Facilities (> 12,500 yd³) Section 17857.1(c)

Biosolids Composting Operations at POTWs (all) Section 17859.1

Vegetative Food Material Composting Facilities (> 12,500 yd³) Section 17857.2

Research Composting Operations (≤ 5,000 yd³) (Within-vessel > 5,000 yd³ with EA determination) Section 17862.

Chipping and Grinding Operations (≤ 200 tpd) Section 17862.1(a)

Chipping and Grinding Facilities (> 200 tpd and ≤ 500 tpd) Section 17862.1(b)

Chipping and Grinding Facilities (> 500 tpd) Section 17862.1(c)

Land Application Activity section 17862.3.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 40502, 43020 and 43021, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 43020 and 43021, Public Resources Code.

History

1. New section filed 11-10-2015; operative 1-1-2016 (Register 2015, No. 46).

2. Amendment of Table 1 filed 2-14-2025 as an emergency; operative 2-14-2025 (Register 2025, No. 7). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-13-2025 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

3. Amendment of Table 1 refiled 8-11-2025 as an emergency; operative 8-14-2025 (Register 2025, No. 33). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-12-2025 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

4. Amendment of Table 1 refiled 11-10-2025 as an emergency; operative 11-13-2025 (Register 2025, No. 46). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-11-2026 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

5. Certificate of Compliance as to 11-10-2025 order transmitted to OAL 1-20-2026 and filed 3-4-2026 (Register 2026, No. 10).