Section 830.205  Additional Operating Standards for Permitted Landscape Waste Compost Facilities

All permitted landscape waste compost facilities must comply with the following operating standards, in addition to those set forth in Sections 830.202 and 830.204:

a)         Composting Process

1)         All permitted landscape waste compost facilities must meet the following composting process standards:

A)        Landscape waste must be processed within 24 hours after receipt at the facility into windrows, other piles or a contained composting system providing proper conditions for composting.  Incoming leaves, and brush or woody landscape waste, may be stored in designated areas for use as a carbon source and bulking agent, if so provided as a permit condition, rather than being processed in windrows or other piles.

B)        Unless the facility is designed for anaerobic composting, the operator shall take measures to adjust the oxygen level, as necessary, to promote aerobic composting.  Aeration intensity must be altered to suit the varying oxygen requirements that different landscape wastes may have.

C)        The operator shall take measures to maintain the moisture level of the composting material within a range of 40% to 60% on a dry weight basis.

D)        The staging area must be adequate in size and design to facilitate the unloading of landscape waste from delivery vehicles and the unobstructed maneuvering of vehicles and other equipment.

E)        Neither landscape waste nor composting material may be mixed with end-product compost ready to be sold or offered for use.  This prohibition shall not apply to the use of end-product compost as an amendment to composting material.

F)         The facility must have sufficient equipment and personnel to process incoming volumes of landscape waste accepted within the time frames required in this Section, and sufficient capacity to handle projected incoming volumes of landscape waste.

G)        The operator shall obtain written authorization from the Agency to use any additive, other than water, prior to its use.  Unless otherwise authorized any additive, or combination of additives, other than water, must not exceed 10%, by volume, of the composting material.

2)         An operator of a permitted landscape waste compost facility using an open composting process shall turn each windrow or other pile at least four times per year and not less than once every six months.  This provision does not apply to composting systems designed for anaerobic conditions.

3)         An operator of a permitted landscape waste compost facility using a contained composting process shall have mechanisms to control moisture, air flow and air emissions.  These mechanisms must be operated and maintained throughout the landscape waste composting process as specified in any permit required pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 831.

4)         Operators of permitted facilities required to process composting material to further reduce pathogens shall comply with the applicable thermal processing requirement among the following:

A)        If the facility uses a windrow composting process, during a 15 consecutive day period the temperature throughout each windrow must be maintained at 55°C or greater and, during the same period, each windrow must be turned a minimum of 5 times;

B)        If the facility uses an aerated static pile composting process, the composting material must be covered with 6 to 12 inches of insulating material, and the temperature throughout each pile material must be maintained at 55°C or greater for 3 consecutive days; and

C)        If the facility uses an in-vessel composting process, the temperature of the composting material throughout the mixture must be maintained at 55°C or greater for 3 consecutive days.

b)         Composting Surface

1)         Open Composting Processes

A)        Composting areas must be:

i)          located on relatively impermeable soils, as demonstrated by actual measurement;

ii)         located on a base with resistance to saturated flow equivalent to the resistance of relatively impermeable soil; or

iii)        subject to an early detection and monitoring program, pursuant to subsection (m)(3) of this Section.

B)        The composting surface must be constructed and maintained to allow:

i)          Diversion of runon waters away from the landscape waste and compost;

ii)         Management of runoff waters and landscape waste leachate in accordance with Section 830.204; and

iii)        Facility operation during all weather conditions.

C)        The surface of the landscape waste composting area of the facility must be sloped at two percent or greater unless an alternative water management system to promote drainage and to prevent surface water ponding is approved in the facility permit.

2)         Contained Composting Processes

A)        Composting areas at facilities at which composting material or leachate comes into contact with an open surface must be:

i)          Located on relatively impermeable soils, as demonstrated by actual measurement;

ii)         located on a base with resistance to saturated flow equivalent to the resistance of relatively impermeable soil; or

iii)        Subject to an early detection and groundwater monitoring program, pursuant to subsection (m)(4) of this Section.

B)        The composting surface must support all structures and equipment.

c)         Utilities.  All utilities necessary for safe operation in compliance with the requirements of this Part, including, but not limited to, lights, power, water supply and communications equipment, must be available at the facility at all times.

d)         Maintenance.  The operator shall maintain and operate all systems and related appurtenances and structures in a manner that facilitates proper operations in compliance with the requirements of this Part.  If a breakdown of equipment occurs, standby equipment must be used or additional equipment brought on site as necessary to comply with the requirements of this Part and any pertinent permit conditions.

e)         Open Burning.  Open burning is prohibited except in accordance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 200 through 245.

f)         Dust Control.  The operator shall implement methods for controlling dust in accordance with Subparts B and K of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 212.

g)         Noise Control.  The facility must be designed, constructed, operated and maintained so as not to cause or contribute to a violation of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 900 through 905 or of Section 24 of the Act.

h)         Vector Control.  Insects, rodents, and other vectors must be controlled so as not to cause or contribute to a violation of the Act.

i)          Fire Protection.  The operator shall institute fire protection measures including, but not limited to, maintaining a supply of water and radio or telephone access to the nearest fire department.  Fire extinguishers must be provided at two separate locations within the facility.

j)          Litter Control.  The operator shall control litter at the facility.  At a minimum:

1)         The operator shall patrol the facility daily to check for litter accumulation.  All litter must be collected in a secure container for later disposal; and

2)         Litter must be confined to the property on which the facility is located.  At the conclusion of each day of operation, any litter strewn beyond the confines of the facility must be collected and disposed of at a facility approved to receive such waste in accordance with the applicable Board regulations.

k)         Management of Non-compostable Wastes.  The operator shall develop management procedures for collection, containment and disposal of non-compostable wastes received at the facility.  Disposal must be at a facility approved to receive such waste in accordance with applicable Board regulations at 35 Ill. Adm. Code 810 through 815.

l)          Mud Tracking.  The operator shall implement measures, such as the use of wheel washing units or rumble strips, to prevent tracking of mud by delivery vehicles onto public roadways.

m)        Monitoring

1)         At a minimum, for batch, windrow and pile systems:

A)        The temperature of each batch, windrow or pile of composting material must be monitored on a weekly basis;

B)        The moisture level in each batch, windrow or pile of composting material must be monitored once every two weeks; and

C)        For aerobic composting, the oxygen level of each batch, windrow or pile of composting material must be monitored weekly.

2)         At a minimum, for in-vessel continuous feed systems:

A)        The temperature of the composting material must be monitored daily;

B)        The moisture of the composting material must be monitored daily, unless otherwise authorized by the Agency in a facility permit; and

C)        For aerobic composting by means of an in-vessel continuous feed system, the oxygen level of the composting material must be monitored daily.

3)         Early detection and groundwater monitoring, if required pursuant to Section 830.205(b)(1)(A) or Section 830.205(b)(2)(A), shall be done in accordance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 830.Appendix A.