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DEQ Compost Program

DEQ Compost Program. Revised Rules Facilitate Food Scraps Composting Biocycle West Coast Conference 2012 Portand, Oregon April 17, 2012 Bob Barrows Waste Policy Analyst Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality . DEQ Compost Program. Protection of surface water, groundwater, and public health

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DEQ Compost Program

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  1. DEQ Compost Program Revised Rules Facilitate Food Scraps Composting Biocycle West Coast Conference 2012 Portand, Oregon April 17, 2012 Bob Barrows Waste Policy Analyst Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality

  2. DEQ Compost Program Purpose of DEQ Rules • Protection of surface water, groundwater, and public health • Flexibility for operators • Site specific permitting framework • Address issues about agricultural composting facilities

  3. DEQ Compost Program Compost Rule Summary • Provides performance standards all composting facilities must meet • Provides initial risk screening for all composting facilities • Provides for exemptions • Two permitting tracks for facilities with different risk levels • Clear requirements for facilities that must provide an operations plan • Special rules for leachate control structures, groundwater protection, odor management, and pathogen reduction

  4. DEQ Compost Program Environmental Performance Standards • Requirements for all composting facilities, regardless of size, location, etc. • Standards for protection of surface water, ground water, prevention of offensive odors, prevention of vectors, and pathogen reduction

  5. DEQ Compost Program Feedstock Definitions • Type 1: Vegetative wastes including yard and garden wastes, wood wastes, crop residues, vegetative food wastes, etc. • Type 2: Animal manure and bedding • Type 3: Food waste (source-separated) which includes meat, eggs, dairy, etc.

  6. DEQ Compost Program When is a Compost Facility Permit Needed? • Type 1 & 2 Feedstocks> 100 tons per year • Type 3 Feedstocks> 20 tons per year or> 40 tons per year if using in-vessel system

  7. DEQ Compost Program Agricultural Composting Facilities • All composting facilities are regulated according to the same requirements and procedures • Eliminating duplicative regulatory entities, CAFO composting operations are regulated under CAFO permits and plans by Oregon Dept. of Agriculture

  8. Conversion Technology Rulemaking Compost Environmental Risk Screening • Reasons for screening: • Recognize that environmental risk differs between sites; • Identify and focus efforts on sites that pose environmental risk • Factors DEQ will examine in screening process • Groundwater, Soil, Surface Water, Odor • Two types of Permits, based on risk designation • Registration or Individual Composting Permit

  9. DEQ Compost Program Risk Screening - Wintergreen Farm

  10. DEQ Compost Program DEQ Permitting Process

  11. DEQ Compost Program DEQ Permitting Process cont’d

  12. DEQ Compost Program Fees • Application screening fee - $150 • Operations Plan review and approval fee based on size of operation (when required) • Engineering review fee -$500 (when required) • Individual Composting Facility Permit will pay an annual tonnage fee based on size • Registration permit - no annual compliance fee

  13. DEQ Compost Program Groundwater/ Surface Water Protection • Rule provides standards for facilities that propose using infiltration to manage leachate and/or stormwater • Protections will be based on site characteristics • Includes use of bioswales, filter strips, crop irrigation, etc.

  14. DEQ Compost Program Leachate Collection System Design • No discharge; except with a water quality permit • Rule provides design and construction standards for facilities that choose to use engineered structures to hold and manage leachate and/or stormwater (protective surfaces, tanks, ponds)

  15. DEQ Compost Program Pathogen Reduction • Rule provides standards and testing protocols for human pathogen reduction • E-coli and/or salmonella • Does not apply to ag operations producing compost for on-farm use

  16. DEQ Compost Program Odor Management • Use Odor as management tool • Bad odor is often indicator of composting site upset conditions • Rule provides a process and requirements for responding to odor complaints • Ag operations less subject to this rule

  17. DEQ Compost Program Oregon Permitted Composting Facilities • Rules effective Sept. 2009 • PRC - First food scraps permit, April 2010 • 47 permitted facilities • 2/3 Registration • 14 new farms • 11 receiving food scraps of 13 permitted

  18. DEQ Compost Program Foodscraps Issues • Pent up food scraps demand • Does demand exceed composting system improvements and capacity expansions in the Metro area? • Land use issues for Metro composters • Odor issues • Compostable plastics & food service items • Feedstock contamination - Market demand for clean, high quality compost

  19. DEQ Compost Program Questions? Bob Barrows DEQ Solid Waste Policy Analyst Eugene, OR 541/ 687-7354 barrows.bob@deq.state.or.us

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