Rule 3745-560-110 | Operational requirements for class I composting facilities.
(A) Authorizing documents. The owner or operator shall operate the facility in accordance with applicable authorizing documents, including but not limited to maintaining the design and operational capacities specified in the plan view drawing, and maintaining a copy of applicable authorizing documents available for inspection by Ohio EPA or the approved health district during normal operating hours.
[Comment: Changes to the facility in accordance with paragraph (H) of rule 3745-560-100 of the Administrative Code may constitute a modification that triggers submittal of an application for a permit to install.]
(B) Authorized materials. The owner or operator shall only accept those feedstocks, bulking agents, and additives authorized in the permit to install. The owner or operator may accept alternative materials upon approval of a permit alteration issued by the director pursuant to rules 3745-560-07 and 3745-560-105 of the Administrative Code.
(C) Unauthorized materials management. The owner or operator shall not accept any unauthorized materials at the facility.
(1) Unauthorized materials include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Any solid waste, feedstock, bulking agent, or additive other than those feedstocks, bulking agents, or additives authorized by paragraph (B) of this rule.
(b) Hazardous waste.
(c) Infectious waste.
(d) Asbestos including asbestos-containing waste material.
(e) Batteries.
(f) Wastes that may include heat stable toxins produced by microorganisms including but not limited to improperly processed foods that are contaminated or likely to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.
(g) Containerized bulk liquids, unless otherwise managed in accordance with paragraph (O) of this rule.
(h) Scrap tires.
(i) Any other material that is restricted for acceptance by the facility under federal or state laws.
(2) If unauthorized materials are detected, the owner or operator shall immediately do the following:
(a) Remove the unauthorized materials from the materials placement area.
(b) Manage the unauthorized materials in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
(c) Record incidents in the log of operations.
(D) Methods of composting. The owner or operator shall manage authorized materials by utilizing any of the following methods of composting:
(1) Windrow composting where the windrow construction, carbon to nitrogen ratio, moisture content, and turning frequency enables controlled biological decomposition under primarily aerobic conditions that is maintained throughout the composting process. Windrows shall be constructed parallel to the line of slope on the site and turned at a minimum four times per year to mix materials, distribute moisture and heat, increase porosity, and change the location of materials in a pile or windrow to ensure consistent composting.
(2) In-vessel composting where the construction, loading, carbon to nitrogen ratio, moisture content, and turning frequency enables controlled biological decomposition under primarily aerobic conditions that is maintained throughout the composting process.
(3) Aerated static pile composting where the construction, including the aeration system, carbon to nitrogen ratio, and moisture content enables controlled biological decomposition under primarily aerobic conditions that is maintained throughout the composting process.
(4) Static pile composting where the construction, carbon to nitrogen ratio, moisture content, and turning frequency enables controlled biological decomposition under primarily aerobic conditions that is maintained throughout the composting process. Static piles shall be turned at a minimum two times per year to reintroduce oxygen into the composting process.
(5) Vermicomposting where the construction, placement, and maintenance of vermicomposting beds, bins, and batch reactors systems facilitates the survival of the earthworms. Solid waste material to be fed to earthworms shall be managed to achieve pathogen reduction prior to feeding to the earthworms.
(6) Other methods. The owner or operator may submit a written request to the director for approval of an alternative composting method that at a minimum includes a detailed description of the alternative composting method and how the method will enable controlled biological decomposition and comply with the operational requirements specified in this rule.
(E) Methods of conditioning compostable materials. The owner or operator may manage authorized materials in conjunction with the composting methods in paragraph (D) of this rule by utilizing any of the following methods:
(1) Acidic anaerobic fermentation where the owner or operator constructs containers and uses microbial inoculum to allow for and maintain acidic anaerobic fermentation conditions. The owner or operator shall maintain materials in sealed containers for a length of time sufficient for acidic anaerobic fermentation to occur, and ensure acidic conditions are maintained between a pH range of 3.5 to 6.0.
(2) Other methods. The owner or operator may submit a written request to the director for approval of an alternative method of conditioning compostable materials that at a minimum includes a detailed description of the alternative method and how the method will enable controlled biological decomposition and comply with the operational requirements specified in this rule.
(F) Certified operator. Not later than three years after the effective date of this rule, the owner or operator shall ensure that the technical operation and maintenance of the composting facility is under the responsible charge of an operator certified by the director as having completed the operator training in accordance with rule 3745-560-26 of the Administrative Code and do the following:
(1) Submit the names of each certified operator to Ohio EPA.
(2) Ensure that a certified operator is on site or reasonably available each day during operations and is responsible for the following:
(a) Overseeing all operations.
(b) Knowledge regarding proper operating procedures, the terms and conditions of the authorizing documents, and this rule.
(c) Reviewing and signing the completed daily log for each day of operation.
(3) Update the names of each certified operator as necessary and submit a copy of the updated names to Ohio EPA not later than thirty days after a change is made.
(4) Maintain a copy of each operator certificate at the composting facility and make the copies available to Ohio EPA upon request.
(5) Interim operator. In the absence of a certified operator, the owner or operator may designate an interim operator to meet the specifications of this paragraph.
(a) The owner or operator that designates an interim operator shall notify Ohio EPA in writing not later than ten days after designation of an interim operator and include at a minimum the following information:
(i) The name, address, and qualifications of the interim operator.
(ii) The duration that the owner or operator intends to have an interim operator in place.
(iii) An explanation describing the reasons for the replacement of the certified operator with an interim operator.
(b) The owner or operator may operate with an interim operator for a period of not more than three hundred sixty-five days.
(c) The owner or operator may operate with the designated interim operator pursuant to paragraphs (F)(5)(a) and (F)(5)(b) of this rule if the interim operator maintains compliance with Chapter 3734. of the Revised Code or the rules adopted thereunder.
(G) Containers management. The owner or operator shall ensure containers used to transport authorized materials are removed, shredded, or otherwise processed to increase the exposed surface area for composting if incorporated into the composting process.
(H) Operational management. The owner or operator shall operate the composting facility in such a manner that does the following:
(1) Controls noise, dust, and odors so as not to cause a nuisance or a health hazard.
(2) Controls the attraction, breeding, and emergence of insects, birds, rodents, and other vectors so as not to cause a nuisance or a health hazard. The owner or operator shall initiate vector control measures as deemed necessary by the approved health district or Ohio EPA.
(3) Implement measures to prevent the occurrence of fire, and immediately implement measures to control the spread of fire, or extinguish the fire, and notify Ohio EPA and the approved health district, as applicable, not later than twenty-four hours after the detection of any fire resulting in the fire department or other emergency services being contacted to assist with controlling or extinguishing the fire.
(4) Employs reasonable measures to collect, properly contain, and dispose of scattered litter.
(5) Prevents the creation of water pollution as to not violate Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code or rules adopted thereunder.
(6) Prevents the creation of air pollution as to not violate Chapter 3704. of the Revised Code or rules adopted thereunder.
(I) Facility access management. The owner or operator shall do the following:
(1) Employ reasonable measures to limit access to the composting facility by non-employees during non-operating hours or in the absence of operating personnel.
(2) Maintain materials placement areas and access roads within the facility boundary in such a manner to allow facility operations and access at all times with minimum erosion and ponding of surface water.
(3) Exclude domestic and farm animals from the facility, except for animals utilized for security purposes or vector control.
(J) Equipment availability. The owner or operator shall have operable equipment of adequate size and quantity for the operations of the facility available at all times.
(K) Wood processing and management. The owner or operator when accepting tree stumps, trunks, limbs, or clean untreated wood shall do the following:
(1) Shred, grind, or chip the tree stumps, trunks, limbs, or the clean untreated wood, prior to incorporation into the composting process and remove foreign materials including but not limited to nails and banding.
(2) Shred, grind, chip, or remove tree stumps, trunks, limbs, and clean untreated wood at a minimum on an annual basis or more often than annually if conditions causing a nuisance or safety hazard warrant processing or removal of the tree stumps, trunks, limbs, and clean untreated wood, or when requested by Ohio EPA or the approved health district.
(L) Surface water management. The owner or operator shall do the following:
(1) Manage surface water in accordance with Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code.
(2) Minimize run-on from reaching the materials placement area.
(3) Undertake actions as necessary to correct the conditions causing the erosion or ponding, unless the ponding is for the purposes of collection.
(4) Divert surface water away from the materials placement area and ensure that the land surface of the materials placement area maintains a slope greater than or equal to one per cent and less than or equal to six per cent to direct surface water to collection points or otherwise control the surface water drainage.
(5) Maintain any structures or mechanisms used for the collection or containment of runoff, if applicable.
(6) Monitor surface water runoff or ground water as specified by the director or approved health district if a substantial threat of surface water or ground water pollution exists.
(M) Leachate management. The owner or operator shall do the following:
(1) Manage leachate in accordance with Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code.
(2) Take action to minimize, control, or eliminate the conditions that contribute to the production of leachate.
(3) Minimize ponding of leachate in the materials placement area.
(4) Eliminate the conditions that contribute to the unauthorized discharge of leachate from the composting facility.
(5) Collect and contain leachate within the boundary of the composting facility and prevent leachate from discharging to waters of the state, unless the discharge is authorized pursuant to Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code.
(6) If applicable, maintain any structures or mechanisms used for the collection or containment of leachate.
[Comment: Leachate may be collected and contained for reintroduction into the composting process.]
(N) Cross-contamination management. The owner or operator shall prevent and manage cross-contamination of feedstocks, bulking agents, additives, compost, and compost product. If cross-contamination occurs, the owner or operator shall do one of the following:
(1) Comply with the more stringent testing standard specified in rule 3745-560-120 of the Administrative Code if the cross-contamination is from a more stringently tested feedstock or material.
(2) Reintroduce the compost or compost product into the composting process.
(3) Remove and properly manage the contaminated feedstock, compost, bulking agent, or additive if the cross-contamination is from an unauthorized material.
(O) Food scraps management. An owner or operator who accepts food scraps shall do the following:
(1) Incorporate the food scraps into the composting process or combine the food scraps with bulking agents in a manner to prevent nuisances including but not limited to odor, vectors, and litter not later than the end of operating hours, as specified in the license application, on the date of receipt.
(2) Maintain a stockpile of biofilter material to provide at a minimum a six inch cover to piles containing food scraps and apply a biofilter cover consisting of at a minimum six inches on the piles if odors, dust, or vectors are present or upon written request by Ohio EPA or the approved health district.
(3) Control free liquid from the incoming food scraps using a berm consisting of compost, bulking agents, or other absorbent material placed around the area where the incoming material is handled and mixed.
(P) Dead animals and raw rendering material management. An owner or operator that accepts dead animals and raw rendering material shall manage these materials in accordance with rule 3745-560-15 of the Administrative Code.
(Q) Upon written notice, Ohio EPA or the approved health district may instruct the owner or operator to submit a written narrative describing the current or planned management practices for any or all of the areas of management under paragraphs (C) to (Q) of this rule. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the owner or operator shall submit the narrative to Ohio EPA or the approved health district not later than seven days upon receipt of the notice, unless an alternative timeframe is specified by Ohio EPA or the approved health district, as applicable.
(R) The director, health commissioner, or health district may order that compost or compost product be disposed in a licensed solid waste landfill if the director, health commissioner, or health district determines that the compost or compost product does not meet the applicable standards of quality or causes or threatens to cause a nuisance or adversely affects the public health, safety, or the environment.
Last updated December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
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