Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 140 - Waste and Materials Management › Subchapter 05 - Solid Waste › Part 8 - Solid Waste Regulation No.8, Rhode Island Organic Waste Recycling Facilities (Composting Regulations) › Section 250-RICR-140-05-8.3 - Small-Scale Leaf, Yard and/or Putrescible Waste Composting Operations

Current through June 14, 2024
A. General
1. Registration by the Department is not
				  required. It is the responsibility of the owner/operator to obtain all
				  necessary permits or approvals, if required by federal or local laws and
				  regulations, or if required by other regulations of the State.
2. Small-Scale Composting Operations shall
				  only accept and utilize the following wastes in the composting operation; leaf
				  and yard waste, certain food wastes including fruits and vegetables, tea
				  leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells, hair, sawdust, manures from animals that eat
				  only plants, clean (uncontaminated) wood chips/bark, hay, straw and shredded
				  corrugated cardboard.
3. The
				  following wastes are specifically prohibited and include, but are not limited
				  to, diseased plants, black walnut tree leaves and twigs (releases possible
				  harmful substances), grease, fats, meat scraps and bones, fish scraps and
				  bones, shellfish, dairy products and eggs, oily foods, pet wastes (from dogs,
				  cats, etc.), diapers, sanitary products, coal ash, and charcoal ash.
4. Composting operations shall be in
				  compliance with the following requirements:
a. The operation shall not cause or be likely
				  to cause pollution of ground water or surface waters.
b. The operation shall not have a significant
				  adverse effect on wetlands.
c. The
				  operation shall not create objectionable odors beyond the property line of the
				  facility.
d. Operating conditions
				  shall be maintained that are sanitary and are not favorable to the harboring,
				  feeding, and breeding of vectors, including rodents and insects that may cause
				  health hazards or nuisances. In the event of vector control problems, the
				  operator shall employ an exterminator or other means approved by the
				  Department.
e. The operation shall
				  not create dust or litter problems.
f. Storage of finished compost shall be
				  performed in a manner that will not cause dust problems, runoff problems, or
				  objectionable odors beyond the property line of the
				  facility.
5. Finished
				  compost shall meet Class A Compost Standards in accordance with §
											8.12 of this
				  Part.
6. The composting operation
				  shall provide the Department, its authorized officers, employees, and
				  representatives, and all other persons under Department oversight, an
				  irrevocable right of access to the facility at all reasonable times for the
				  purposes of performing inspections and investigations without prior
				  notice.
7. If the Department
				  determines the composting operation does not comply with §§
											8.3(A)(2) through
				  (5) of this Part, the operation shall come
				  into compliance with §
											8.3(A) of
				  this Part requirements within thirty (30) days of Department notification. Any
				  operation cited by the Department two (2) times within a six (6) month period
				  shall cease accepting any new feedstock from off-site until the composting
				  operation can verify the operation is in compliance with §
											8.3(A) of
				  this Part requirements.