YWN14002_INSP_20160630

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW X Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Caldwell
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: YWN-14-002
CDLF Tire T&P /
Collection Tire
Monofill Industrial
Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE
Date of Site Inspection: June 30, 2016 Date of Last Inspection: Initial Inspection
FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Carolina Wholesale Mulch, LLC
4714 Helton Road
Granite Falls, North Carolina 28630
GPS COORDINATES: N: 35.81371 W: 81.47165
FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Richard McDowell
Telephone: [phone]
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
5773 Long Bay Drive
Granite Falls, North Carolina
PARTICIPANTS:
Richard McDowell, Owner/Operator
Charles Gerstell, NCDEQ – Solid Waste Section
STATUS OF PERMIT:
A Yard Waste Notification Facility Renewal Form for the period of June 1, 2016 – May 31, 2017 was received by the
Solid Waste Section. A letter acknowledging receipt of the Notification Renew Form was issued by the Solid Waste
Section on June 15, 2016.
PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection
STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A
OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B .1406(9)(B) states: “The temperature of all compost produced shall be
monitored sufficiently to ensure that the pathogen reduction criteria is met.”
15A North Carolina Administrative Code 1406(10) states: “Compost process at Type 1 facilities shall be maintained at
or above 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees F) 3 days and aerated to maintain elevated temperatures.”
During the inspection Mr. McDowell stated that temperatures were not being recorded for compost operations on site.
This constitutes a violation of 15A NCAC 13B .1406(9)(B) and .1406(10).
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 2 of 3

To achieve compliance, the temperature of all compost produced shall be monitored to ensure that the pathogen criteria is
met. All compost on site must be maintained above 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees F) for 3 consecutive days and
aerated to maintain elevated temperatures. Temperature logs must be recorded and made available to the Solid Waste
Section upon request. No compost on site may be distributed until the temperature requirements have been met.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility is located off Helton Drive.
2. A gate is located at the entrance of the facility to prevent unauthorized access. Mr. McDowell explained that the
gate remains closed when he is not on site.
3. The access roads were of all-weather construction and maintained.
4. No objectionable odors were observed.
5. The facility receives leaves and wood chips from the Town of Hudson and brush from the Town of Sawmills. The
facility is not open to the general public for disposal.
6. No significant ponding was observed.
7. During the inspection, pallet waste and mulch appeared to be placed within the required 50-foot buffer to the
southern property line just inside the entrance gate. Mr. McDowell stated that this material was placed in this area
to prevent unauthorized access by ATV traffic. A pile of pallet waste also appeared to be located within the
required 50-foot buffer to the eastern property line at the northeast corner of Mr. McDowell’s property. Please
ensure that waste in the aforementioned areas is relocated to ensure that that 50-foot buffer has been established to
property lines.
8. During the inspection two areas of graded, compacted wood waste were observed on the north and south portions
of the site. Mr. McDowell stated that the material consisted of old pallet material that he planned to cover with
wood chips and plant trees on. Some brush was also observed within the wood debris on the southern fill area.
x All material in the subject areas must be relocated into proper storage piles for processing or removal to
a facility permitted by the Division of Waste Management for the acceptance of such material. Failure
to relocate the material may result in a violation of 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 13B
.0201(a) for establishing a solid waste management facility without a permit from the Division.
x Mr. McDowell stated that he was not aware that he could not use the subject wood waste in manner
described.
9. Compost activities take place on the southwest portion of the property where leaves are placed into windrows.
Please ensure that adequate access is provided around and between windrows to allow for access by firefighting
equipment.
10. Brush is processed into mulch and sold at Mr. McDowell’s retail mulch yard.
11. As a reminder, the facility shall no process or store more than 6,000 yd³ of material per three-month period, or
have on hand at any one time a combination of waste material and finished product that exceeds 6,000yd³. The
facility must also remain under 2-acres in size.

The item(s) listed above were observed by Section staff and require action on behalf of the facility in order to come into or maintain compliance
with the Statutes, Rules, and/or other regulatory requirements applicable to this facility. Be advised that pursuant to N.C.G.S. 130A-22, an
administrative penalty of up to $15,000 per day may be assessed for each violation of the Solid Waste Laws, Regulations, Conditions of a Permit,
or Order under Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the N.C. General Statutes. Further, the facility and/or all responsible parties may also be subject to
enforcement actions including penalties, injunction from operation of a solid waste management facility or a solid waste collection service and any
such further relief as may be necessary to achieve compliance with the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Act and Rules.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 3 of 3

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report.

_______________________________________ Phone: [phone]
Charles T. Gerstell
Environmental Senior Specialist
Regional Representative

Sent on: 7/8/16 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section
Jessica Montie, Compliance Officer – Solid Waste Section

Digitally signed by Charles T. Gerstell
DN: cn=Charles T. Gerstell, o=Division of
Waste Management, ou=Solid Waste
Section,
email=[e-mail], c=US
Date: 2016.07.08 13:01:05 -04'00'