Current through August 26, 2024
(1) GENERAL. No person may operate or
maintain a composting facility for yard residuals, farm crop residue, farm
animal manure, animal carcasses, food residuals including vegetable food
residuals, or source-separated compostable material except in accordance with
the requirements of this section or s.
NR 243.15(8).
Note Pursuant to s.
NR 243.15(8), the Department may choose
to regulate composting facilities associated with livestock operations that are
subject to the requirements of ch. NR 243 under that operation's Wisconsin
Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit instead of under s. NR 502.12.
Facilities for composting waste types other than yard residuals, farm crop
residue, farm animal manure, animal carcasses, food residuals or
source-separated compostable materials are regulated under s.
NR 502.08. Local ordinances may apply to facilities
regulated under this section.
(2) HOUSEHOLD EXEMPTION. Facilities for
composting only source-separated compostable material from a single family or
household, a member of which is the owner, occupant or lessee of the property
where the facility is located, are exempt from all requirements of this
chapter, provided the facility is operated in a nuisance-free and
environmentally sound manner.
(3)
LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR SOURCE-SEPARATED COMPOSTABLE MATERIAL COMPOSTING
FACILITIES WITH CAPACITY OF 50 CUBIC YARDS OR LESS. Facilities for composting
source-separated compostable materials that do not exceed 50 cubic yards at one
time, including collected raw materials and compost being processed but
excluding finished compost, are exempt from the requirements specified in s. NR
to 502.04(2) (6), locational criteria, plan of operation submittal, licensing
and all other requirements of this chapter provided the following are met:
(a) The performance standards specified in s.
NR 502.04(1) and the minimum operational
standards specified in sub. (10).
(b) The facility is operated in a
nuisance-free and environmentally sound manner.
(4) LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR FARM CROP RESIDUE
OR MANURE COMPOSTING FACILITIES. Facilities for on site composting of farm crop
residue or manure, except deer or elk manure, directly from agricultural
operations are exempt from the requirements of s. NR to 502.04(2) (6),
locational criteria, plan of operation submittal, licensing and all other
requirements of this chapter, provided all of the following requirements are
met:
(a) The performance standards in s.
NR 502.04(1).
(b) The facility is operated in a
nuisance-free and environmentally sound manner.
(c) All the farm crop residue and manure
composted are generated from agricultural operations either under common
ownership, common management or located adjacent to each other, and the
composting occurs on the property of one of these agricultural
operations.
(d) The compost is
utilized for agricultural landspreading, at the same farm or at another farm,
in accordance with s.
NR 518.04(1) (b) or (i).
(e) Source-separated compostable material
other than farm crop residue and manure may be accepted from off site for use
in the composting process if the following requirements are met:
1. The locational criteria in sub. (8),
unless the offsite material consists exclusively of yard material, clean
chipped wood, or both.
2. The
minimum operational and design standards in subs. (10) and (11).
3. The recordkeeping requirements of sub.
(15) (a) 3. and the discharge inspection requirements in sub. (15) (a)
4.
4. The combined volume of farm
crop residue, farm animal manure, and source-separated compostable material on
site at one time may not exceed 10,000 cubic yards, including collected raw
materials and compost being processed but excluding finished compost. The
volume of food residual inputs to the composting process may not exceed 25
percent of the total combined volume of raw material inputs. Inputs shall be
mixed to achieve an initial carbon to nitrogen ratio of at least 20 to 1.
Note Composting facilities that accept manure or
are located at a livestock operation may be subject to additional state
requirements in chs. NR 151 and
243 and in ch. ATCP 51, as well as
local regulations for manure storage and shoreland and floodplain zoning.
Public distribution of the compost may be regulated by the department of
agriculture, trade and consumer protection (DATCP). Other local ordinances may
apply to facilities regulated under this section. The following landspreading
operations are exempt under s.
NR 518.04(1) (b), (h) and (i),
respectively, provided the material is applied as a soil conditioner or
fertilizer in accordance with accepted agricultural practices and the facility
is operated and maintained in a safe, nuisance-free manner:
-Farms on which only nonhazardous agricultural residuals
resulting from the operation of a farm, including farm animal manure, are
landspread.
-Landspreading of uncomposted yard residuals.
-Landspreading of composted source-separated compostable
material.
(5) LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR ON SITE FARM ANIMAL
CARCASS COMPOSTING FACILITIES. Facilities for on site farm composting of animal
carcasses other than deer or elk are exempt from the requirements in s. NR to
502.04(2) (6), locational criteria, plan of operation submittal, licensing and
all other requirements of this section, provided they are in compliance with s.
95.50(1),
Stats., and all of the following:
(a) The
performance standards in s.
NR 502.04(1).
(b) The minimum operational and design
standards in subs. (10) and (11), excluding the size reduction requirements in
sub. (10) (c).
(c) Only animal
carcasses, farm animal manure, farm crop residue, yard residuals and clean
chipped wood are composted at the facility.
(d) All the farm wastes composted are
generated from agricultural operations either under common ownership, common
management or located adjacent to each other, and the composting occurs on the
property of one of these agricultural operations.
(e) The compost is utilized for agricultural
landspreading, at the same farm or at another farm, in accordance with s.
NR 518.04(1) (b) or (i), except that
compost made using ruminant animal carcasses may not be utilized at another
farm.
(f) If yard residuals or
clean chipped wood are accepted from off site, the following requirements shall
be met:
1. The yard residuals or clean
chipped wood shall be mixed with farm wastes to increase the carbon to nitrogen
ratio and porosity of the composting process.
2. The combined volume of animal carcasses,
farm animal manure, farm crop residue, yard residuals and clean chipped wood on
site at one time may not exceed 10,000 cubic yards, including collected raw
materials and compost being processed but excluding finished compost.
(6) LIMITED EXEMPTION
FOR YARD RESIDUALS COMPOSTING FACILITIES. Facilities for composting yard
residuals and clean chipped wood that do not exceed 20,000 cubic yards at one
time, including raw materials and compost being processed, but excluding
finished compost, are exempt from the requirements in s.
NR 502.04(3) (c), (4), (5),
and (6), plan of operation submittal and all
other requirements of this chapter, provided all of the following requirements
are met:
(a) The performance standards and
closure requirements in s. NR and 502.04(1) (3) (a) (b).
(b) For new or expanded facilities,
compliance with the locational criteria in sub. (8). New or expanded facilities
with a capacity greater than 1,000 cubic yards shall comply with the initial
site inspection requirements in s.
NR 502.04(2).
(c) The minimum operational and design
standards in subs. (10) and (11), the recordkeeping requirements of sub. (15)
(a) 3., the discharge inspection requirements in sub. (15) (a) 4., and the
reporting requirements in sub. (15) (b).
(d) An operating license for the facility is
issued by the department.
(e) The
compost is applied to land, either on site or off site, in accordance with s.
NR 518.04(1) (i), or is otherwise used
for horticultural, landscaping, or erosion control purposes.
(7) LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR
SOURCE-SEPARATED COMPOSTABLE MATERIAL COMPOSTING FACILITIES OF 5,000 CUBIC
YARDS OR LESS. Facilities for composting source-separated compostable material
that exceed 50 cubic yards but do not exceed 5,000 cubic yards at one time,
including raw materials and compost being processed, but excluding finished
compost, are exempt from the requirements in s.
NR 502.04(3) (c), (4), and
(5) and subs. (12) and (14), and the
monitoring requirements of sub. (15) (a) 1. and 2., provided all of the
following requirements are met:
(a) The
performance standards and closure requirements in s. NR and 502.04(1) (3) (a)
(b).
(b) For new or expanded
facilities, the initial site inspection requirements in s.
NR 502.04(2) and the locational criteria
in sub. (8).
(c) The minimum
operational and design standards in subs. (10) and (11), the plan submittal
requirements in sub. (13), the recordkeeping requirements of sub. (15) (a) 3.,
the discharge inspection requirements in sub. (15) (a) 4., and the reporting
requirements in sub. (15) (b).
(d)
An operating license for the facility is issued by the department.
(e) For facilities that use animal manure as
a raw material, the testing requirements of sub. (15) (a) 1.
(f) The compost is utilized for landspreading
applied to land, either on site or off site, in accordance with s.
NR 518.04(1) (i), or is otherwise used
for horticultural, landscaping, or erosion control purposes.
(8) LOCATIONAL CRITERIA FOR
COMPOSTING FACILITIES.
(a) Unless exempt under
sub. (2), (3), (4), or (5) from compliance with locational criteria, new or
expanded compost facilities regulated under this section may not be located in
any of the following areas unless an exemption has been granted in writing by
the department under par. (c):
1. Within a
floodplain.
2. Within 5 feet of the
seasonal high groundwater table.
3.
Within 250 feet of any private water supply well, or within 1,200 feet of any
public water supply well.
4. Within
250 feet of any navigable river or stream.
5. Within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of
the right-of-way of any state trunk highway, interstate or federal aid primary
highway or the boundary of any public park or state natural area under ss.
23.27(1) and
23.28(1),
Stats., unless the facility is screened by natural objects, plantings, fences
or other appropriate means so that it is not visible from the highway, park or
state natural area.
6. Within
10,000 feet of any airport runway used or planned to be used by turbojet
aircraft or within 5,000 feet of any airport runway used only by piston type
aircraft or within other areas where a substantial bird hazard to aircraft
would be created. This criterion is applicable only when the facility will be
used for handling putrescible waste.
(b) In addition to the restrictions in par.
(a):
1. Facilities exempt under sub. (6) or
(7) may not be located within 250 feet of any navigable lake, pond, or flowage,
or within 100 feet of land owned by a person other than the owner or operator
of the facility.
2. Facilities not
exempt under sub. (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7) may not be located within 500
feet of any navigable lake, pond, or flowage, or within 250 feet of land owned
by a person other than the owner or operator of the facility.
(c) The department may grant
exemptions from par. (a) 2. to 6. only upon demonstration by the applicant of
circumstances which warrant the exemption. Exemption from compliance with par.
(a) 1. may not be granted.
Note Compost facilities associated with
livestock operations that are required to have a wastewater discharge permit
under the Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System and that handle
manure, animal feed or other agricultural materials may be subject to
additional locational requirements in chs. NR 151, NR 243 or ATCP 51.
(10) MINIMUM OPERATIONAL
STANDARDS FOR COMPOSTING FACILITIES. Unless exempt under sub. (2) or (4), no
person may operate or maintain a composting facility regulated under this
section except in accordance with the following minimum operational
requirements:
(a) Raw materials accepted for
composting shall be source separated at the point of generation so that they
have not been mixed or otherwise contaminated with nonapproved waste types,
particularly materials which are not readily compostable. Prior to
incorporation into the composting process, the raw materials shall be sorted as
needed to ensure that materials which are not readily compostable are removed
unless alternate operational methods are used in conjunction with equipment to
produce a compost product virtually free of physical and chemical contaminants.
Note Compost product which contains physical or
chemical contaminants such as plastic, glass, metal scraps or regulated
concentrations of heavy metals or organic compounds, may require controlled
disposal under an approved landspreading plan or at a landfill.
(b) Raw materials in
noncompostable bags shall be debagged within 24 hours of receipt at the
facility. Raw materials, other than leaves and brush, in compostable bags shall
be processed such that the contents of the bags are exposed to air within 24
hours of receipt at the facility. Stored waste shall be managed in accordance
with the requirements applicable to the composting process. The following
operational standards shall also be met for the wastes specified:
1. Grass clippings and food residuals from
canned, frozen or preserved fruit or vegetable processing operations shall be
incorporated into windrows or another composting process within 72 hours of
receipt at the facility, unless odor becomes a problem at the facility in which
case these materials shall be incorporated within 24 hours.
2. Animal carcasses, fish harvesting and
processing residuals, manure and food residuals which are not from canned,
frozen or preserved fruit or vegetable processing operations shall be
incorporated into windrows or another composting process on the same operating
day as received at the facility. Upon initial incorporation of these residuals,
composting windrows or piles shall be covered with a minimum 6 inch layer of
compost, high carbon material such as wood chips, or other suitable material to
control odor and vectors.
3. All
animal carcasses and food residuals shall be managed to prevent access by dogs
and wild animals.
(c)
Compost raw materials shall be size reduced if necessary to provide adequate
particle surface area for effective composting.
(d) Materials within the composting process
shall be thoroughly mixed as appropriate to the composting method and aerated
as frequently as necessary. Windrow height, structure and porosity shall be
designed and maintained to ensure that adequate oxygen is available at all
times within the windrow or pile to prevent the process from becoming
anaerobic.
Note To maintain aerobic composting and prevent
odor, aeration is needed whenever the process temperature rises to 150° For
more. Windrows consisting primarily of leaves and wood waste are likely to
require turning at least monthly from spring through fall.
(e) Materials shall be mixed into the
composting process to provide a minimum initial carbon to nitrogen ratio of
20:1.
Note For aerobic composting, the optimum carbon
to nitrogen ratio ranges from approximately 20:1 to 40:1.
(f) Maximum windrow size and minimum windrow
spacing shall match the capability and requirements of the equipment utilized
at the facility.
(g) Material
within the composting process shall be wetted as needed to control dust and
maintain a moisture content conducive to efficient composting.
Note For aerobic composting, the optimum
moisture content is 50 to 60% by weight.
(h) Materials resulting from composting shall
be:
1. Stabilized to reduce pathogenic
organisms and to ensure that the materials do not reheat upon
standing.
2. Free of sharp
particles which could cause injury to persons handling the material.
3. Free of toxins and pathogens in amounts or
concentrations that could cause detrimental impacts to public health or the
environment.
Note Pathogens are defined in ch. NR 204 as
"disease causing organisms, including but not limited to certain bacteria,
protozoa, viruses and viable helminth ova." Appropriate methods for pathogen
reduction during composting are specified in 40 CFR, Part 257, Appendix II,
Section B:
1. For in-vessel or static
aerated pile composting, maintain a continuous minimum temperature of 55°C,
or 131°F, for a minimum of 3 consecutive days.
2. For windrow composting, attain a minimum
temperature of 55°C, or 131°F, on a minimum of 15 days, which are not
required to be consecutive, and turn the windrow a minimum of 5 times during
the high temperature periods.
(i) Compost product storage time shall be
minimized to maintain the quality of the compost and the product shall be
marketed as necessary to prevent excessive stockpiling.
(j) The facility shall be operated in a
nuisance-free and environmentally sound manner.
Note Landspreading of composted leaves, grass,
brush and other source-separated compostable material is exempt from department
landspreading regulations under s.
NR 518.04(1) (i) provided the material
is applied as a soil conditioner or fertilizer in accordance with accepted
agricultural practices and the facility is operated and maintained in a safe,
nuisance-free manner. Public distribution of the compost may be regulated by
the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (DATCP).
(11) MINIMUM DESIGN
STANDARDS FOR COMPOSTING FACILITIES. Unless exempt under sub. (2) or (3), no
person may construct or maintain a composting facility regulated under this
section except in accordance with the following minimum design standards:
(a) Run-off from the composting area shall be
discharged to a gently sloping vegetated area of sufficient size to prevent
erosion and any discernible confined and discrete discharge of liquids or
suspended solids to surface water or wetlands from the composting
area.
(b) Slope, vegetation and
surface water containment ditches, retention basins, compost berms or socks and
other best management practices shall be used at the facility as needed to
minimize erosion, prevent pollutant discharges from storm water runoff and
maintain diffused surface drainage.
(c) Composting shall take place on an area
sloped sufficiently to prevent ponding, and measures such as berms or ditches
shall be used to prevent storm water run-on.
(d) If inspections performed under sub. (15)
(a) 4. indicate improvements in storm water controls are needed to meet the
requirements of pars. (a) through (c), the owner and operator of the facility
shall make the needed improvements as soon as practicable and update the storm
water pollution prevention plan, if applicable.
Note Under ch. NR 216, new or expanding
facilities with one acre or more of land disturbance are required to obtain a
construction site storm water permit. In addition, the department may require a
composting facility to obtain an industrial storm water discharge permit if it
does not maintain compliance with a separate department permit or approval
which includes storm water control requirements that are at least as stringent
as those required under ch. NR 216, resulting in the discharge of pollutants to
waters of the state or constituting a significant contribution of pollutants to
the waters of the state.
(e) The overall composting facility shall be
of sufficient size to allow processing of materials as necessary to avoid
nuisance conditions, and shall have adequate room for material stockpiles,
windrows of manageable dimensions for maintaining aerobic conditions, curing
piles, staging of finished compost, and equipment.
Note Composting facilities that accept manure or
are located at a livestock operation may be subject to additional state
requirements in chs. NR 151 and
243 and in ATCP 51, as well as
local regulations for manure storage and shoreland and floodplain zoning. Other
local ordinances may apply to facilities regulated under this section.
(12) ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONAL AND DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NONEXEMPT COMPOSTING FACILITIES. Unless
exempt under sub. (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), new or expanded composting
facilities regulated under this section shall comply with the following
additional operational and design standards:
(a) All run-off that contacts materials being
composted or raw materials staged for composting shall be managed as leachate
and shall be directed to either a collection basin or a tank. Leachate may be
used in the composting operation for moisture addition. All other leachate
shall be treated at an onsite or offsite wastewater treatment facility
permitted to accept it.
(b) All
composting, and all storage of uncomposted raw materials other than leaves,
clean chipped wood, clean sawdust and other raw materials with initial carbon
to nitrogen ratios greater than 30:1 shall take place on a low-permeability pad
constructed of asphalt, concrete, recompacted clay or other material approved
by the department.
(c) At a
minimum, the leachate collection capacity shall be designed for a 25 year, 24
hour storm event as defined in s.
NR 205.05.
(13) PLAN SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
NONEXEMPT AND CERTAIN EXEMPT COMPOSTING FACILITIES. Unless the facility is
exempt under sub. (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6), applicants for all new or
expanded composting facilities regulated under this section shall submit a plan
of operation report and obtain department approval of the plan of operation
report prior to construction of the new or expanded facility. Unless an
exemption is granted by the department in writing, the plan shall be submitted
in accordance with s.
NR 500.05, except that facilities exempt under sub. (7)
need not comply with s.
NR 500.05(4). The plan shall provide a
design which complies with subs. (10) and (11) and, as applicable, sub. (12),
and contain the following minimum information:
(a) The location of the property where the
facility is proposed to be located.
(b) A brief description of the project,
including the area served, an estimate of the annual tonnage and volume of
material to be processed and identification of the materials to be used in the
compost process.
(c) A description
and drawing of the proposed facility, including location and size of windrows,
or other composting process, on site traffic and process flow, the property
boundaries, routes to transport feedstocks and finished compost to and from the
facility and present land use within 1/4 mile of the facility.
(d) A description of the procedures for
processing the material prior to incorporation into the windrow, or other
composting process, such as de-bagging or size reduction.
(e) For each raw material proposed to be
composted, either laboratory or literature data documenting the carbon,
nitrogen, and moisture content and pH.
(f) A proposed raw material mix for
composting, with calculations or laboratory data documenting the carbon,
nitrogen, and moisture content and pH of the mix.
(g) A specification of the maximum size,
including volume, height and width, for staging piles, composting windrows or
other composting processes, curing piles, and finished compost storage. If the
materials on site at any one time will exceed 40,000 cubic yards of yard
residuals and clean chipped wood, 10,000 cubic yards of source-separated
compostable materials other than yard residuals and clean chipped wood, or
5,000 cubic yards of food residuals, an estimate of closure costs shall be
provided with the plan of operation report, and prior to licensure, proof of
financial responsibility in accordance with ss.
NR 520.06 through 520.13 shall be provided for the
closure costs, including the removal, transport and ultimate disposal of all
waste material and compost at the site.
(h) A specification of the methods of
measuring critical parameters within the windrow and other composting
processes, and a description of methods that will be used to ensure the
critical parameters are met. Critical parameters addressed shall include carbon
to nitrogen ratio, temperature, moisture content, oxygen content, pH and
stability. The specification shall describe methods to be used for maintaining
aerobic conditions during the composting process, including turning equipment
and frequency for passive ventilation, and equipment and residence time for
mechanical ventilation, as well as actions to be taken in response to odors and
composting process upsets.
(i) A
description of the type of vehicles used for transporting feedstocks and
finished compost to and from the facility, and a description of the type of
equipment for turning or mixing and screening.
(j) A discussion of potential markets for the
compost and material specifications necessary to be met for these markets, such
as nutrient content, pH, particle size, appearance, moisture holding capacity
or other pertinent specifications.
(k) Identification of any noncompostable
waste, such as bags, which will be generated from the composting operation, and
the name and location of solid waste disposal facilities at which any waste
generated from the composting operation will be disposed of.
(L) Specification of the design, construction
and documentation to be used for the low permeability pad, including materials,
thicknesses and testing.
(m) A
description of the planned sampling frequency and testing parameters for the
finished compost.
(n) A storm water
pollution prevention plan that meets the requirements of s.
NR 216.27.
(o) Identification of local zoning and permit
requirements that apply to the proposed facility.
Note Under ch. NR 216, new or expanding
facilities with one acre or more of land disturbance are required to obtain a
construction site storm water permit.
(p) Proposed procedures for amending the plan
in the event changes to the approved plan are needed.
(14) CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION FOR NONEXEMPT
COMPOSTING FACILITIES.
(a) For facilities
other than those exempt under sub. (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), the
department may require owners and operators of new or expanded composting
facilities regulated under this section to submit a construction documentation
report to the department and obtain department approval of the construction
documentation report prior to operation of the facility.
(b) Unless an exemption is granted by the
department in writing, the construction documentation report shall be prepared
in accordance with the department's plan approval and the requirements in s.
NR 500.05. The construction documentation report shall be
approved by the department prior to obtaining a license and prior to accepting
waste at the facility.
(15) MONITORING, RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING.
(a) Unless exempt under sub. (2), (3), (4),
(5), (6), or (7), owners and operators of composting facilities regulated under
this section shall complete monitoring and reporting in accordance with the
plan of operation approval and the following requirements:
1. Samples of the finished compost that is
ready for sale, distribution or use shall be collected every 2,000 tons or
4,000 cubic yards, with a minimum of one sample per year, or, alternatively, in
accordance with the testing frequency specified by the United States Composting
Council's Seal of Testing Assurance program, unless a different frequency is
approved in writing by the department, and tested for the parameters in Tables
1 and 2.
Note Only class A compost under sub. NR 502.12(16) is subject to the limits in Tables 1 and 2. "Test Methods for
Evaluation of Compost and Composting" (2002) and a list of laboratories
certified under the Seal of Testing Assurance program are available from the
United States Composting Council, 5400 Grosvernor Lane, Bethesda, Md 20814
(301) 897-2715, www.compostingcouncil.org.
a. Samples shall be collected, handled and
analyzed in accordance with methods listed in "Test Methods for Evaluation of
Compost and Composting" published in 2002 by the United States Composting
Council or other methods approved in writing by the department. Samples shall
be tested at a laboratory certified under the United States Composting
Council's Seal of Testing Assurance program or at another laboratory approved
in writing by the department.
Note "Test Methods for Evaluation of Compost and
Composting" (2002) and a list of laboratories certified under the Seal of
Testing Assurance program are available from the United States Composting
Council, 15400 Grosvernor Lane, Bethesda, Md 20814 (301) 897-2715,
www.compostingcouncil.org.
b. Test results shall be made
available upon request to the department, potential users of the compost, and
to the general public.
2. Unfiltered leachate samples shall be taken
from the collection basin or tank, and tested quarterly for the first 4
quarters and annually thereafter for BOD5, COD, field pH, field conductivity
corrected to 25°C, nitrate+nitrite-nitrogen, and total dissolved
solids.
3. Compost pile turning
frequency and temperature readings as appropriate to the composting method used
shall be documented and maintained to demonstrate pathogen reduction and odor
control activities.
4. The facility
shall be visually inspected by the owner or operator quarterly to evaluate
storm water discharge quality and performance of discharge controls, and twice
per year to identify non-storm water discharges if present.
(b) Unless exempt under sub. (2),
(3), (4), or (5), the owner or operator of a composting facility regulated
under this section shall prepare and submit an annual report to the department
by March 1 on forms supplied by the department. The annual report shall include
at least the following information:
1. Name
and address of the facility.
2.
Calendar year covered by the report.
3. Annual quantities and types of raw
materials received and compost produced, in tons. Tonnage estimates may be
based on volume records where scale weights are not available.
4. Annual quantity of compost sold,
distributed or used, in tons, and quantity of class A compost sold, distributed
or used.
5. Copies of laboratory
analyses of composted material.
6.
Any additional information required as a condition of the plan of operation
approval.
Note Copies of the annual reporting form may be
obtained from the department of natural resources, bureau of waste and
materials management, 101 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7921, Madison,
Wisconsin 53707-7921, (608) 266-2111, DNRwastematerials@wisconsin.gov, or
online at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Recycling/regs.html.
(16) CLASS A
COMPOST. Finished compost may be designated and distributed as class A compost
if it meets all of the following requirements:
(a) The compost is composed entirely of
materials meeting the definition of "source-separated compostable materials" in
s. NR m 500.03(219).
(b) The
compost is produced by one of the processes to reduce pathogens described in
subd. 1. to 3., with temperature and retention time monitored and recorded each
day until the temperature and retention time criteria are met:
1. Windrow method consisting of an unconfined
composting process utilizing periodic aeration and mixing. Aerobic conditions
shall be maintained during the composting process. A temperature of 55°C,
or 131°F, shall be maintained in the windrow for at least fifteen days. The
windrow shall be turned at least five times during the high-temperature
period.
2. Mechanically aerated
static pile method consisting of an unconfined composting process utilizing
mechanically forced aeration of insulated compost piles. Aerobic conditions
shall be maintained during the composting process. The temperature of the
compost pile shall be maintained at a continuous minimum of 55°C, or
131°F, for at least three consecutive days.
3. In-vessel method consisting of a confined
compost process utilizing mechanical mixing of compost under controlled
conditions. The minimum retention time in the vessel shall be 72 hours with the
temperature maintained at 55°C, or 131°F.
(c) The compost is tested in accordance with
sub. (15) (a) 1. a. and b.
(d) The
compost does not exceed any of the limits specified in Tables 1 or 2.
Table 1.
|
Parameter
|
Limit for class A compost (mg/kg dry weight)
|
|
Arsenic
|
12
|
|
Cadmium
|
6.1
|
|
Chromium
|
120
|
|
Copper
|
400
|
|
Lead
|
95
|
|
Mercury
|
1.2
|
|
Molybdenum
|
15
|
|
Nickel
|
49
|
|
Selenium
|
4.9
|
|
Zinc
|
820
|
|
Physical contaminants
|
less than 1 percent
|
|
Fecal coliform
|
Either 1,000 MPN/g of total solids (dry wt) fecal
coliform or 3 MPN/4g of total solids (dry wt) salmonella
|
|
Salmonella
|
Table 2.
|
Characteristic
|
Test procedure
|
Limit for class A compost
|
|
Maturity (both methods)
|
Carbon:Nitrogen ratio
Seedling emergence and vigor bioassay
|
10 - 20:1
Indices above 80%
|
|
Stability (one of the following methods)
|
Respirometry (carbon dioxide evolution) Dewar
self-heating test Solvita test
|
Up to 5 mg CO2-C/g volatile
solids/day 0 - 20°C temperature rise Index value 6 or greater
|
