Solid Waste Facilities, Sites and Operations

Compostable Materials

Compostable materials make up well over one-third of most jurisdictions' waste streams. State mandated diversion requirements have resulted in an increasing number of compostable material processing operations. An increased reliance on composting, chipping and grinding, and other compostable material processing operations is expected in order to meet State-mandated diversion goals.

To assist local enforcement agencies and facility operators with compostable materials management issues, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has developed resources for local enforcement agencies (LEA) and facility operators on compostable materials management. These include:

• Permitting: Requirements for permitting composting facilities and operations.
• Enforcement: Enforcement requirements at composting facilities and operations.
• Statutes and Regulations: Statutory and regulatory citations related to composting.
• Operational Challenges (Odors, Emissions, Fires and Contamination): Information on odors and odor complaint investigations, emissions, fires and contamination/feedstock quality related to compostable materials handling.
• Responses to Operational Challenges: Some solutions to meet operational challenges, including Integrated Best Management Practices and odor impact minimization plans.
• Community Outreach: Information on community outreach programs.
• Resources: Resources related to composting of use to local enforcement agencies.

Current Initiatives

The current regulatory review as part of Strategic Directive 8.3, includes an in depth look at appropriate contamination levels in green material, food waste permits, agricultural composting, odors and other concerns at compostable materials processing operations. CalRecycle staff continues to work on the following areas: 

• Alternative Daily Cover
• Food Waste Composting
• Compostable Material Storage Volume Limitations
• Agriculture Land Application of Compostable Material
• Three-Part Test/Green Material Contamination

Additional Guidance

• Safely Disposing of Waste Meat, Poultry, and Fish Material: Guidance and FAQs (Adobe PDF, 123 KB | MS Word, 64 KB)
• Overcoming Barriers to Siting New Organic Diversion Facilities
• Comprehensive Compost Odor Response Project (C-CORP) Report--(Project description) (442-07-001)
• Mitigation Strategies to Control Odor
• Frequently Asked Questions: Compostable Materials Regulations
• Operational Challenges/Concerns Assessment Procedure (OCAP)

CalRecycle staff has also developed an Organic Materials Management Web site where you'll find the Organics Toolbox for jurisdiction's diversion and information on compost, mulch, grasscycling, and other topics related to the management and use of organic resources.