1. (1) No new composting facility shall be located in the following areas:

   1. (a) wetlands, watercourses, or floodplains; or
   2. (b) within 500 feet of any permanent residence, school, hospital, institution, office building, restaurant, or church.
2. (2) Each new compost facility shall meet the requirements of Subsection R315-302-1(2)(f)

3. (3) Each owner or operator of a composting facility, in addition to the operational plan required in Subsection R315-312-2(1), shall develop, keep on file, and abide by a plan that addresses:

   1. (a) detailed plans and specifications for the entire composting facility including manufacturer's performance data for equipment;
   2. (b) methods of measuring, grinding or shredding, mixing, and proportioning input materials;
   3. (c) a description and location of temperature and other types of monitoring equipment and the frequency of monitoring;
   4. (d) a description of any additive material, including its origin, quantity, quality, and frequency of use;
   5. (e) special precautions or procedures for operation during wind, heavy rain, snow, and freezing conditions;
   6. (f) estimated composting time duration, which is the time period from initiation of the composting process to completion;
   7. (g) for windrow systems, the windrow construction, including width, length, and height;

   8. (h) the method of aeration, including turning frequency or mechanical aeration equipment and aeration capacity; and

      1. (i) a description of the ultimate use for the finished compost, the method for removal from the site, and a plan for the disposal of the finished compost that cannot be used in the expected manner due to poor quality or change in market conditions.

4. (4) Composting facility operation requirements.

   1. (a) Operational records shall be maintained during the life of the facility and during the post-closure care period, which include, at a minimum, temperature data and quantity and types of material processed.
   2. (b) Any waste materials collected for the purpose of processing shall be processed within two years or as provided in the plan of operation.
   3. (c) Any materials not destined for processing shall be properly disposed.
   4. (d) Turning frequency of the compost shall be sufficient to maintain aerobic conditions and to produce a compost product in the desired time frame.

   5. (e) During the composting process, the compost shall:

      1. (i) maintain a temperature between 104 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 and 65 degrees Celsius, for a period of not less than five days; and
      2. (ii) reach a temperature of not less than 131 degrees Fahrenheit, 55 degrees Celsius, for a consecutive period of not less than four hours during the five-day period.

   6. (f) The following wastes may not be accepted for composting:

      1. (i) asbestos waste;
      2. (ii) hazardous waste;
      3. (iii) waste containing PCBs; or
      4. (iv) treated wood.
   7. (g) Any composting facility utilizing municipal solid waste, municipal sewage treatment sludge, water treatment sludge, or septage shall require the generator to characterize the material and certify that any material used is nonhazardous, contains no PCBs, and contains no treated wood.

   8. (h) If the composting operation will be utilizing domestic sewage sludge, septage, or municipal solid waste:

      1. (i) compost piles or windrows shall be placed upon a surface such as sealed concrete, asphalt, clay, or an artificial liner underlying the pile or windrow, to prevent contamination of subsurface soil, ground water, or both and to allow collection of run-off and leachate. The liner shall be of sufficient thickness and strength to withstand stresses imposed by compost handling vehicles and the compost itself;
      2. (ii) run-off systems shall be designed, installed and maintained to control and collect the run-off from a 25-year storm event;
      3. (iii) the collected leachate shall be treated in a manner approved by the director; and
      4. (iv) run-on prevention systems shall be designed, constructed, and maintained to divert the maximum flow from a 25-year storm event.
      5. (i) If the director determines that a composting operation, which composts materials other than domestic sewage sludge, septage, or municipal solid waste, is likely to produce a leachate that in combination with the hydrologic, geologic, and climatic factors of the site will present a threat to human health or the environment, the director may require the owner or operator of the composting facility to meet the requirements specified in Subsection R315-312-3(4)(h).
   9. (j) The finished compost shall contain no sharp inorganic objects and shall be sufficiently stable that it can be stored or applied to land without creating a nuisance, environmental threat, or a hazard to health.

5. (5) Composting facility closure and post-closure requirements.

   1. (a) Within 30 days of closure, a composting facility shall:

      1. (i) remove any piles, windrows, and any other compost material on the composting facility's property;
      2. (ii) remove or revegetate compacted compost material that may be left on the land;
      3. (iii) drain ponds or leachate collection system if any, back-fill, and assure removed contents are properly disposed;
      4. (iv) cover if necessary; and
      5. (v) record with the county recorder as part of the record of title, a plat and statement of fact that the property has been used as a composting facility.

   2. (b) The post-closure care and monitoring shall be for five years and shall consist of:

      1. (i) the maintenance of any monitoring equipment and sampling and testing schedules as required by the director; and
      2. (ii) inspection and maintenance of any cover material.

KEY: solid waste management, waste disposal

Date of Last Change: November 20, 2023

Notice of Continuation: November 30, 2022

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 19-6-105; 19-6-108