CalRecycle Proposed Revisions to Titles 14 and 27

During an additional 15-day comment period from June 29 to July 14, CalRecycle requested feedback on revision of existing Title 14 and Title 27 regulations regarding compostable materials, transfer/processing, permit application form, and permit exemptions. See, the attached proposed text provided for review, or http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Laws/Rulemaking/Compost/default.htm

A number of organizations, such as EBMUD, OCSD, VVWRA, SCAP, and CASA provided comments that noted that “CalRecycle effectively address[ed] comments that were previously submitted by the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA),” and urged rapid adoption of the proposed regulations as currently drafted. Comments can be viewed at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Laws/Rulemaking/Compost/2nd15Day/default.htm.

The proposed regulations seek to clarify “several feedstock definitions and the types of operations and facilities that can accept these materials; revises maximum metal concentrations allowed in compost; provides enforcement agencies with discretion to authorize temporary storage of additional material; revises inspection frequency language to ensure consistency throughout Title 14; provides operators and enforcement agencies with a mechanism to address chronic odor and identify sources of odor; establishes criteria for safe land application of compostable material; requires compost products to meet a physical contaminant limits; and clarifies small-scale composting requirements at sites, such as community gardens and schools. The proposed project provides a standardized regulatory framework for in-vessel digestion activities. Currently, in-vessel digestion activities are subject to either existing Transfer/Processing Operations and Facilities Regulatory Requirements or Compostable Material Handling Operations and Facilities Regulatory Requirements, depending on the nature of the feedstock and how it is handled. The proposed regulations combine portions of the transfer/processing and compostable material handling requirements into a stand-alone set of in-vessel digestion regulations.”