Ohio Administrative Code
Title 3745 - Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Chapter 3745-560 - Composting Facilities
Section 3745-560-15 - Composting of dead animals and raw rendering material
Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 3745-560-15
Current through all regulations passed and filed through December 16, 2024
(A) An owner or operator of a class I, class II, or class III composting facility that is composting dead animals or raw rendering material shall comply with the following:
(1)
Prior to
acceptance of dead animals or raw rendering material:
(a)
Designate a
person responsible for the day to day operations of the composting facility who
has participated in an educational course concerning composting of dead animals
and raw rendering material conducted by the Ohio state university extension and
who has obtained a certificate of completion for the course. A copy of the
certificate shall be made available to Ohio EPA or the approved board of health
upon request.
(b)
Obtain written concurrence from Ohio EPA upon
inspection verifying that the composting facility meets the preparation
criteria specified in this chapter.
(2)
Dead animals
composting. Unless otherwise approved by Ohio EPA or the approved board of
health, the owner or operator shall comply with the following when composting
dead animals:
(a)
Incorporate the dead animals into the composting
process upon receipt at the facility.
(b)
Document in the
log of operations the species of the dead animals accepted and specify the bin
where the dead animals were placed.
(c)
Conduct the
composting in three-sided bins.
(d)
Complete the
composting of the dead animals in the following stages:
(i)
Stage one
composting.
(a)
The first layer of dead animals shall be placed on top of a
bulking agent bottom layer a minimum of eighteen inches thick.
(b)
A minimum of six
inches of bulking agent shall separate each layer of dead animals.
(c)
The
last layer of dead animals shall be completely covered with a minimum of
twenty-four inches of bulking agent.
(d)
A full bin shall
remain undisturbed for a minimum of ninety days.
(ii)
Stage two
composting.
(a)
After completion of stage one composting, the contents shall
be turned, mixed, or if there is no visible flesh present, moved to a secondary
stage bin area and re-covered completely with a minimum of twelve inches of
bulking agent.
(b)
The material shall remain undisturbed in the secondary
stage for a minimum of sixty days.
(c)
If at the end of
secondary stage there is still visible flesh or non-brittle bones, the owner or
operator shall do the following:
(i)
Mix with fresh bulking agent as necessary, cover
completely with a minimum of twelve inches of bulking agent, and maintain
undisturbed for a minimum of sixty days. Parts of dead animals shall not be
visible.
(ii)
Reintroduce the material in a stage one or stage two
bin as part of or in addition to the bulking agents.
(e)
If a specific bulking agent or mixing ratio does not
enable the composting of the dead animals, re-mix the bulking
agent.
(f)
Document the bulking agents used and the mixing ratio
if applicable in the log of operations.
(3)
Raw rendering
material composting. Unless otherwise approved by Ohio EPA or the approved
board of health, the owner or operator shall comply with the following when
composting raw rendering material:
(a)
Incorporate the raw rendering material into the
composting process upon receipt at the facility.
(b)
Document in the
log of operations the bin where the raw rendering material was placed.
(c)
Conduct the composting in three-sided bins.
(d)
Complete the
composting of the raw rendering material in the following stages:
(i)
Stage one
composting.
(a)
The first layer of raw rendering material shall be placed on
top of a bulking agent bottom layer a minimum of twenty-four inches
thick.
(b)
A minimum of twelve inches of bulking agent shall
separate each layer of raw rendering material.
(c)
The last layer of
raw rendering material shall be completely covered with a minimum of
twenty-four inches of bulking agent.
(d)
A full bin shall
remain undisturbed for a minimum of ninety days.
(ii)
Stage two
composting.
(a)
After completion of stage one composting, the contents shall
be turned, mixed, or if there is no visible flesh present, moved to a secondary
stage bin area and re-covered completely with a minimum of twelve inches of
bulking agent.
(b)
The material shall remain undisturbed in the secondary
stage for a minimum of sixty days.
(c)
If at the end of
secondary stage there is still visible flesh or non-brittle bones, the owner or
operator shall do the following:
(i)
Mix with fresh bulking agent as necessary, cover
completely with a minimum of twelve inches of bulking agent, and maintain
undisturbed for a minimum of sixty days. Parts of the raw rendering material
shall not be visible.
(ii)
Reintroduce the material in a stage one or stage two
bin as part of or in addition to the bulking agents.
(e)
If a specific bulking agent or mixing ratio does not
enable the composting of the raw rendering material, re-mix the bulking agent
in order to achieve an acceptable blend for composting.
(f)
Document the
bulking agents used and the mixing ratio if applicable in the log of
operations.
(4)
Compost from dead animals or raw rendering material
that does not have visible flesh material or bones shall be utilized on
property owned by the owner or operator or tested for distribution in
accordance with this chapter.
(5)
Request in
writing and obtain written concurrence from Ohio EPA or the approved board of
health prior to the following:
(a)
Utilizing composting systems other than three-sided
bins.
(b)
Adjusting the thickness of the bulking agent
layers.
(c)
Adjusting the length of the composting
stages.
(d)
Adjusting the time frame for incorporation of the dead
animals or raw rendering material upon receipt at the
facility.
(6)
Nuisance. The owner or operator shall conduct
operations at the facility in such a manner that dust, odors, and vectors are
controlled as to not cause a nuisance.
(a)
If odors, dust,
or vectors are present, the owner or operator shall apply a cover consisting of
a minimum of six inches of biofilter material over the dead animals or raw
rendering material not later than twenty-four hours after discovery of the
odors, dust, or vectors.
(b)
If odors, dust, or vectors persist, then the owner or
operator shall upon written notification of Ohio EPA or the approved board of
health cease acceptance of dead animals or raw rendering material and dispose
of the composting mixture at a licensed solid waste landfill.
(7)
Upon
written notification that an infectious or contagious animal disease has been
reported in the state, the owner or operator shall cease acceptance of the
reported dead animals or raw rendering material and dispose of any remaining
compost in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws, including any
applicable provisions of Chapter 941. of the Revised Code.
(B) Compliance with this rule does not relieve any person of obligations under Chapter 941. or 953. of the Revised Code.
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