Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) Central

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 Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) 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 CIWMB wants California to reduce the amount of organics being landfilled by 50 percent by 2020 (see the CIWMB Strategic Directive 6.1). To do this, at least 15 million tons of organics need to be recycled annually. As identified in the CIWMB’s “Organics Roadmap,” new and expanded facilities are going to be needed to achieve this goal and the CIWMB is looking at what it can do to help reduce the barriers to the siting and expanding of these needed facilities.

An increased reliance on composting, chipping and grinding, and other compostable material processing operations is expected in order to meet State-mandated diversion goals. The public’s concern with odor threatens existing and future siting of compostable material processing operations. This could negatively impact the State’s ability to meet diversion goals, use up valuable landfill space, and create additional waste disposal problems. The increased use of compostable material processing in California requires a higher level of involvement by the CIWMB to address odor problems and other concerns.

Additional Guidance

The upcoming regulatory review as part of Strategic Directive 8.4, will include an in depth look at appropriate contamination levels, food waste permits, agricultural composting, odors and other concerns at compostable materials processing operations. CIWMB staff has developed other guidance resulting from current and past initiatives, including a frequently asked questions page with answers from CIWMB staff:

• Overcoming Barriers to Siting New Facilities
• Conversion Technology Guidance
• Comprehensive Compost Odor Response Project (C-CORP) Report (Project description)
• Mitigation Strategies to Control Odor
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Operational Challenges/Concerns Assessment Procedure (OCAP)

Board staff has also developed an Organic Materials Management website where you'll find information on compost, mulch, grasscycling, and other topics related to the management and use of organic resources.

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