5103_JohnstonLF_preoperative_20211108

Factors to Address for Non-Typical Feedstocks Proposed for Composting
NC DEQ, Solid Waste Section
6-24-2020

North Carolina statutes definition of “compost’ and “composting”:
Composting means “the controlled decomposition of organic waste by naturally occurring bacteria, yielding a stable, humuslike, pathogenfree final product resulting in volume reduction
of 30  75 percent.”
Compost is “decomposed, humuslike organic matter, free from pathogens, offensive odors, toxins or materials harmful at the point of end use. Compost is suitable for use as a soil conditioner
with varying nutrient values.”
“Organic” as it pertains to composting and agriculture, is organic matter or natural organic matter, meaning “living, live, biological, capable of decay, from plants and animals.”
The proposed waste must be either organic (break down to a humus-like organic matter) or provide nutrient value to soil, or both.
Is the waste “compostable”?
A chemical waste may undergo chemical decomposition because of temperature or by chemical degradation. It should not be composted if it will not provide nutrient value to soil, or break
down to a humus-like organic matter. A waste must have minimal amounts of chemicals to be considered for composting.
A waste should not be composted when it is simply being diluted in the composting mass, as an alternate to disposal, and does not provide nutrient value to soil.
The waste must be biodegradable, able to break down safely and relatively quickly (less than a year) by biological means into natural materials.
What is the process that generated the waste? Describe in detail. What is the source of the waste? Provide a photo of the waste.
What are the components/ingredients in the waste? What are the chemicals in those ingredients?
Prior to and during composting, what effect would those chemicals have in the environment, if released at a site, both in surface water and in groundwater?
What is the chemical breakdown process of the chemicals, and by what required conditions?
If those chemicals were to persist through the compost process, and were found in the end product compost, would there be a human health risk to the public? In particular, would there
be a risk to children having contact with the compost?
Trial:
What is the length of time for the trial?
What is the total volume of waste proposed for the trial?
How will the compost containing the trial waste be segregated from the rest of the compost onsite?
Testing will be required of the finished compost containing the trial waste.