South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-107 - Solid Waste Management
Subchapter 61-107.4 - Solid Waste Management: Compost and Mulch Production from Land-clearing Debris, Yard Trimmings and Organic Residuals
Part III - Permitted Facilities
Section H - Quality Assurance and Testing Requirements for Finished Compost

1. Any compost produced from Category Two or Category Three feedstocks and offered for sale or distribution to the public is required to meet the physical and biological standards listed in this section. Composite samples shall be collected, stored and analyzed in accordance with the procedures found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture publication "Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost" (TMECC), or equivalent methodology recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publication SW-846, "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods."

2. Compost from Type One facilities or compost made solely from Category One feedstocks with compliant records of time and temperature monitoring are presumed to meet the standard for biological contaminants and are not required to perform laboratory testing as described in this section.

3. All compost for sale or distribution to the public and produced from feedstocks other than Category One must be tested and meet the designation of Class A Exceptional Quality Compost or be designated for legal disposal, additional processing, or other use as approved by state or federal agencies having appropriate jurisdiction.

4. Class A exceptional quality compost:

5. The distribution and use of exceptional quality compost is unrestricted and the consumer shall be advised to apply the product at agronomic rates based on product analysis, except that the use and distribution of compost produced from feedstocks generated by facilities permitted pursuant to R.61-67, Standards for Wastewater Facility Construction, shall be subject to all applicable requirements of R.61-9.

6. Compost Testing Frequency. The frequency of laboratory testing for pollutants, biological contaminants, and physical contaminants shall be based on the volume of compost produced annually by the facility as indicated in Table 2:

Table 2. Compost Testing Frequency

7. The composted product shall be analyzed for stability using methods as set forth in the USDA TMECC Section 05.08-A through Section 05.08-F and the Compost Stability Index Table 05.08-1.

8. All compost produced for sale or distribution is required by this regulation to meet the physical and biological contaminant standards in Table 3 by a testing method referenced in this regulation or an equivalent method allowed by the Department:

Table 3. Physical and Biological Contaminants Limits for Compost