1912SWCD_INSP_20170621

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 3

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Chatham
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 19-12 SWCD
CDLF Tire T&P /
Collection Tire
Monofill Industrial
Landfill DEMO X SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: June 21, 2017 Date of Last Inspection: June 23, 2016

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Celebrity Dairy LLC dba Celebrity Dirt SWC Demonstration
198 Celebrity Dairy Way
Siler City, NC 27344

GPS COORDINATES:
N: 35.76012 W: -79.35274

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
John Bonitz, Operator - Celebrity Dairy LLC dba Celebrity Dirt
c. 919-360-2492
[e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
John Bonitz
21 Fox Chapel Lane
Pittsboro, NC 27312

PARTICIPANTS:
John Patrone, Environmental Senior Specialist - Solid Waste Section (SWS)
Corinne Law, Environmental Specialist – SWS
John Bonitz, Operator - Celebrity Dairy LLC dba Celebrity Dirt

STATUS OF PERMIT:
Solid Waste Compost Demonstration (SWCD) approved June 4, 2015
SWCD expiration date extension - expires September 4, 2017

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
None

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
None

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 3

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
On June 21, 2017, John Patrone and Corinne Law met with John Bonitz to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the
Celebrity Dairy LLC dba Celebrity Dirt SWC Demonstration located on Celebrity Dairy Way in Siler City, Chatham
County.

1. The Celebrity Dairy LLC dba Celebrity Dirt is a solid waste compost demonstration (SWCD) that has obtained
approval to operate (SWS letter dated June 4, 2015).
2. The approval granted is in accordance with the North Carolina Solid Waste Management rules, 15A North
Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) 13B .1409, and subject to the conditions stated in the approval letter.
3. The SWCD has obtained approval to distribute compost (SWS letter dated June 19, 2015). The approval to
distribute is ongoing so long as the required testing is conducted and the results are compliant with the NCAC
13B .1400 rules.
4. The SWCD is considered a small, type 3 compost operation.
5. The SWCD utilizes a combination of goat manure-bedding, biochar, poultry litter, liquid whey, and wood chips.
6. The facility has constructed a manure dry store (compost building). A positive aeration system has been
constructed [utilizing a ¾ horsepower blower motor] to meet process to further reduce pathogens (PFRP).
7. Currently, there is a test windrow in the compost building.
8. The test windrow has met PFRP and vector attraction reduction (VAR) – in place. Records for April 2017 were
reviewed.
9. Mr. Bonitz stated that the compost test windrow, observed during the June 2016 SWS inspection, has been used
as cover material for the current test windrow in the compost building.
10. Mr. Bonitz stated that the current test windrow will be analyzed [metals, pathogen(s), and man-made inerts] in
the next few weeks.
11. Ensure compost is not distributed until analysis confirms compliance with the NCAC 13B .1400 rules.
12. Mr. Bonitz stated that the facility has not produced finished compost since April 2015.
13. The compost building floor is a soil cement hardened base. Mr. Bonitz stated that it is sandstone-like. The floor
did not appear graded such that liquid will flow in a predetermined manner. The lower part of the compost
building wall is open to the outside. Large concrete blocks have been placed inside the compost building along
the open area of the wall.
14. The compost building does not have a leachate containment system. Mr. Bonitz stated that wood mulch will be
placed around the perimeter of the windrow(s) to capture leachate produced. The compost process occurs under
cover/within the compost building. The leachate produced is expected to be manageable.
15. The facility processes goat manure-bedding using a manure spreader. Shredded manure-bedding is stored in the
building near the compost operation. Ensure an adequate buffer is maintained between the compost operation
and the stored shredded manure-bedding. It is suggested that the shredded manure bedding be stored in a
contained area/bin.
16. In the future, Mr. Bonitz stated that he plans to construct four large bins in the compost building to commercially
produce compost. The current method of composting is considered temporary.
17. Ensure an adequate buffer is maintained between the compost operation and stored materials and vehicles in the
compost building.
18. Ensure leachate from the compost operation does not leave the building. It shall not flow to the building’s exterior
trench drain or to the open-bottom sump [serving the trench drain].
19. The two [small] wooden positive aerated test bins used to produce compost in April 2015 have been removed
from the site and are no longer used for composting.
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

20. Mr. Bonitz has a vermiculture operation at the dirtworks [building]. He stated that the vermiculture operation
only uses finished compost, from the batch produced in April 2015, and wood mulch as feedstocks. The compost
produced from the vermiculture operation is sold to the public.
21. Contact Ed Mussler, SWS Permitting Branch Head, at 919-707-8281 or Donna Wilson, SWS Permitting
Engineer, at 919-707-8255 to ensure that the vermiculture operation is compliant with the NCAC 13B .1400 rules.
22. The SWCD expiration date is September 4, 2017.
23. Ensure that Mr. Mussler or Ms. Wilson is contacted several weeks prior to September 4, 2017 to discuss the
application process for a compost permit.

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

Phone: [phone]

John Patrone
Environmental Senior Specialist
Regional Representative

Sent on: June 27, 2017 X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - SWS
Jessica Montie, Compliance Officer – SWS
Ed Mussler, Permitting Branch Head – SWS
Donna Wilson, Permitting Engineer – SWS
Corinne Law, Environmental Specialist - SWS

Digital pictures taken June 21, 2017
by John Patrone, DWM – SWS

Positive aeration compost windrow/operation Concrete blocks along open area of compost building wall