Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 567 - Environmental Protection Commission › Title VIII - Solid Waste Management and Disposal › Chapter 105 - Organic Materials Composting Facilities › Rule 567-105.3 - General Requirements for All Composting Facilities Not Exempt Pursuant to 105.2 (455B,455D)

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
This rule applies to all composting facilities not exempt
				  under 105.2(455B,455D). Facilities exempt from permitting that do not operate
				  in accordance with this chapter may as a result be required to obtain a solid
				  waste composting permit. Composting facilities shall also operate in accordance
				  with all applicable city and county ordinance and permitting
				  requirements.
(1) The composting
				facility shall be 500 feet from any existing inhabited residence, not including
				the residence of the person owning/operating the compost facility, at the time
				the permit application was received by the department. Composting must be done
				outside of wetlands, at least 200 feet from public wells, 100 feet from private
				wells, 50 feet from property lines, and 100 feet from flowing or intermittent
				streams, lakes, or ponds. Composting done inside the 100-year flood plain shall
				be in accordance with all local and department regulations including
				567-715.
				(455B). Sediment ponds, engineered wetlands or other constructed waterways for
				the purpose of pollution control are excluded from this requirement.
(2) Composting shall be performed in a manner
				that minimizes the formation of compost leachate by the facility.
(3) Measures shall be taken to prevent water
				from running onto the facility from adjacent land and to prevent compost
				leachate and runoff from leaving the composting facility. Runoff from the
				composting facility must be properly managed.
(4) Facilities shall be designed,
				constructed, and maintained so as to minimize ponding of water or liquids. Any
				ponding that does occur shall be corrected through routine facility maintenance
				within 48 hours after the termination of the event causing the
				ponding.
(5) Composting must be
				done on an all-weather surface of compacted soil, compacted granular
				aggregates, asphalt, concrete or similar relatively impermeable material that
				will permit accessibility during periods of inclement weather and prevent
				contamination of surface water and groundwater.
(6) Solid waste which cannot be composted or
				which is removed during processing shall be properly disposed of. Infectious
				waste shall not be accepted for composting at any composting facility unless
				approved by the department in writing.
(7) Solid waste materials shall be managed
				through the entire process in accordance with best management practices to
				minimize conditions such as odors, dust, noise, litter and vectors which may
				create nuisance conditions or a public health hazard.
(8) Storage of cured or finished compost
				shall be limited to 18 months. The 18-month period may be extended with prior
				written approval from the department.
(9) If compost is offered for sale as a soil
				conditioner or fertilizer, the compost must be registered by the department of
				agriculture and land stewardship under Iowa Code chapter 200, Fertilizers and
				Soil Conditioners. Sale shall be in compliance with all applicable federal and
				state laws and local ordinances and regulations.
(10) Compost shall not be applied to land,
				sold or given away unless the concentration of human-made inert materials such
				as glass, metal, and plastic is less than 1.5 percent by dry weight.
Compost shall not be applied to land, sold or given away
				  unless the size of any human-made inert materials is less than 13 mm (0.512
				  inches).