Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-350 - Solid waste handling standards
Section 173-350-220 - Composting facilities
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Composting facilities - Applicability.
(2) Composting facilities - Permit exemptions. In accordance with RCW 70.95.305, conditionally exempt facilities composting materials and volumes in Table 220-A must meet the conditions listed in Table 220-A, and (a) through (e) of this subsection to be conditionally exempt from solid waste handling permitting. Feedstocks not listed in Table 220-A must be approved by the department and jurisdictional health department. For the purposes of this subsection, "material on-site at any one time" includes feedstocks, active composting, curing piles, and composted materials. An owner or operator that does not comply with the terms and conditions of Table 220-A and (a) of this subsection is required to obtain a permit from the jurisdictional health department and must comply with all other applicable requirements of this chapter. Violations of the terms and conditions of Table 220-A and (a) of this subsection may be subject to the enforcement provisions of RCW 70.95.315.
Table 220-A
Terms and Conditions for Solid Waste Permit Exemptions
Organic Materials |
Volume |
Specific Requirements for Activity or Operation |
|
(1) |
All organic feedstocks |
No more than 5,000 gallons or 25 cubic yards of material on-site at any one time. |
No notification, reporting or testing requirements. |
(2) |
All organic feedstocks |
Greater than 25 but no more than 250 cubic yards of material on-site at any one time, not to exceed 1,000 cubic yards in a calendar year. |
(a) Thirty days prior to operation, facilities must submit a notification of intent to operate as a conditionally exempt facility to the jurisdictional health department and the department. Notice of intent must be submitted on a form provided by the department; (b) Facilities that distribute composted material off-site must meet the following conditions: (i) Manage the operation to reduce pathogens to meet limits set by Table 220-B; (ii) Conduct compost analysis according to the requirements of Table 220-B. Compost testing frequency is based on volume of compost produced annually as required by subsection (4)(a)(x)(B) of this section; and (iii) Submit annual reports and results of composted material analysis to the department and the jurisdictional health department by April 1st of each calendar year. Annual reports must be submitted on forms provided by the department. |
(3) |
Yard debris Crop residues Manure and bedding Bulking agents |
Greater than 25 but no more than 500 cubic yards of material on-site at any one time, not to exceed 2,500 cubic yards processed in a calendar year. |
(a) Thirty days prior to operation, facilities must submit a notification of intent to operate as a conditionally exempt facility to the jurisdictional health department and the department. Notice of intent must be submitted on a form provided by the department. (b) Facilities that distribute composted materials off-site must meet the following conditions: (i) Manage the operation to reduce pathogens to meet limits set by Table 220-B; (ii) Conduct compost analysis according to the requirements of Table 220-B. Compost testing frequency is based on volume of compost produced annually as required by subsection (4)(a)(x)(B) of this section; and (iii) Submit annual reports and results of composted material analysis to the department and the jurisdictional health department by April 1st of each calendar year. Annual reports must be submitted on forms provided by the department. |
(4) |
Agricultural wastes Yard debris Bulking agents |
Greater than 25 but no more than 1,000 cubic yards of agricultural wastes and bulking agents on-farm at any one time, and up to 50% of organic materials on-farm can be yard debris. |
Agricultural farms managing more than 25 cubic yards of imported yard debris on-site at any one time or composting only agricultural wastes but that distribute off-site must meet the following conditions: (a) Thirty days prior to operation, facilities must submit a notification of intent to operate as a conditionally exempt facility to the jurisdictional health department and the department. Notification must be submitted on a form provided by the department; (b) If agricultural farm is only managing agricultural waste and not distributing composted material off farm, then notification in (4)(a) of this table is not required; (c) Facilities that distribute composted material off-site must meet the following conditions: (i) Manage operation to reduce pathogens to meet limits set by Table 220-B of this section; (ii) Conduct compost analysis according to the requirements of Table 220-B. Compost testing frequency is based on volume of compost produced annually as required by subsection (4)(a)(x)(B) of this section; and (iii) Submit annual reports and results of composted material analysis to the department and the jurisdictional health department by April 1st of each calendar year. Annual reports must be submitted on forms provided by the department. |
(5) |
Agricultural wastes Manure and bedding from zoos Bulking agents |
Greater than 25 cubic yards with no upper limits when only agricultural wastes, manure and bedding from zoos, and bulking agents are processed on-farm, or on-site for zoos. |
Agricultural farms that distribute composted material off-farm, or off-site for zoos, must meet the following conditions: (a) Thirty days prior to operation, facilities must submit a notification of intent to operate as a conditionally exempt facility to the jurisdictional health department and the department. Notification must be submitted on a form provided by the department; (b) For composting at a dairy, composting must occur as part of an updated dairy nutrient management plan as required by chapter 90.64 RCW, Dairy Nutrient Management Act; (c) For composting at a farm other than a dairy, composting must occur as part of an updated farm management plan written in conjunction with a conservation district, a qualified engineer, or other agricultural professional able to certify that the plan meets applicable conservation practice standards in the USDA Washington Field Office Technical Guide, Code 317, produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service; (d) Facilities that distribute composted material off-site must meet the following conditions: (i) Manage the operation to reduce pathogens to meet limits set by Table 220-B of this section; (ii) Conduct compost analysis according to the requirements of Table 220-B. Compost testing frequency is based on volume of compost produced annually as required by subsection (4)(a)(x)(B) of this section; and (iii) Submit annual reports and results of composted material analysis to the department and the jurisdictional health department by April 1st of each calendar year. Annual reports must be submitted on forms provided by the department. |
(a) Comply with the performance standards of WAC 173-350-040;
(b) Manage the operation to prevent the migration of agricultural pests identified by local horticultural pest and disease control boards, as applicable;
(c) Control nuisance odors to prevent migration beyond property boundaries;
(d) Manage the operation to prevent attraction of flies, rodents, and other vectors; and
(e) Allow the department or the jurisdictional health department to inspect the site at reasonable times.
(3) Composting facilities - Permit requirements - Location. There are no specific location standards for composting facilities subject to this chapter; however, composting facilities must meet the performance standards of WAC 173-350-040.
Note: |
When considering compost facility location, please review the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Advisory Circular. No. 150/5200-33B 2007. |
(4) Composting facilities - Permit requirements - Design. Composting facilities must be designed and constructed to meet the requirements of this subsection.
(5) Composting facilities - Permit requirements - Documentation. Within thirty days of completing construction, the owner or operator of a composting facility must provide copies of the construction record drawings for engineered features at the facility and a report documenting facility construction, including the results of observations and testing carried out as part of the construction quality assurance plan, to the jurisdictional health department and the department. Facilities must not begin operating until the jurisdictional health department has determined that the construction was completed in accordance with the approved engineering report, plans, and specifications and has approved the construction documentation in writing. The jurisdictional health department has thirty days after receiving complete construction records to provide its determination.
(6) Composting facilities - Permit requirements - Operating. The owner or operator of a composting facility must:
Table 220-B
Testing Parameters
Metals and other testing parameters | Limit (mg/kg dry weight), unless otherwise specified |
Arsenic | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 20 ppm |
Cadmium | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 10 ppm |
Copper | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 750 ppm |
Lead | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 150 ppm |
Mercury | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 8 ppm |
Molybdenum | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 9 ppm |
Nickel | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 210 ppm |
Selenium | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 18 ppm |
Zinc | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 1400 ppm |
Physical contaminants1 | [LESS THAN EQUALS TO] 1 percent by weight total, not to exceed .25 percent film plastic by weight |
Sharps | 0 |
pH | 5 - 10 (range) |
Biological stability2 | Moderately unstable to very stable |
Fecal coliform3 | < 1,000 Most Probable Number per gram of total solids (dry weight) |
OR | |
Salmonella | < 3 Most Probable Number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight) |
1A label or information sheet must be provided with compost that exceeds .1 percent by weight of film plastic. See WAC 173-350-220(6)(f)(iii)(D)(I). |
2Tests for biological stability must be done as outlined in the United States Composting Council Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost unless otherwise approved by the jurisdictional health department. |
3Test for either fecal coliform or salmonella. |
Note: |
Biosolids composters regulated under this chapter must communicate with the jurisdictional health department to determine if different testing parameters and testing frequencies are required. |
(7) Composting facilities - Permit requirements - Groundwater monitoring. There are no specific groundwater monitoring requirements for composting facilities subject to this chapter; however, composting facilities must meet the performance standards of WAC 173-350-040.
(8) Composting facilities - Permit requirements - Closure. The owner or operator of a composting facility must:
(9) Composting facilities - Permit requirements - Financial assurance. There are no specific financial assurance requirements for composting facilities subject to this chapter; however, composting facilities must meet the performance standards of WAC 173-350-040.
(10) Composting facilities - Permit application contents. The owner or operator of a composting facility must obtain a solid waste permit from the jurisdictional health department. All applications for permits must be submitted in accordance with the procedures established in WAC 173-350-710. In addition to the requirements of WAC 173-350-710 and 173-350-715, each application for a permit must contain:
(11) Composting facilities - Designation of composted materials. When used on-site or distributed off-site, composted materials meeting the testing parameters of Table 220-B are no longer subject to this chapter. Composted materials that do not meet these requirements are solid waste and subject to management under chapter 70.95 RCW, Solid waste management- Reduction and recycling.
Statutory Authority: RCW 70.95.020(3), 70.95.060(1), 70.95.260(6), 70.95.305, 70.95.330. 13-08-016 (Order 10-06), § 173-350-220, filed 3/25/13, effective 4/25/13. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW. 03-03-043 (Order 99-24), § 173-350-220, filed 1/10/03, effective 2/10/03.