Alternatives to Rendering home
For an overview of the subject, please refer to the summary document, Alternatives to Rendering for Meat Processors.
A composting operation for meat processing facilities in Kansas is considered to be a type of solid waste management called "source-separated organic waste composting". The rules are spelled out in the Kansas Administrative Regulations (KAR), specifically in KAR 28-29-25e. The numbers "28-29-25e" refer to "agency 28", in this case, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), "subject 29", Solid Waste Management, and "specific topic 25e", the specific rules for source-separated organic waste composting. The full text of the regulation is available on line, as a fairly large PDF file covering all of KAR 28-29. The full document is about 121 pages long. You may find it worthwhile to print out section 25e, since it is not hard to read and spells out the requirements very explicitly. To save paper, you can scroll down through the document until you find the relevant section, and print out the two or so pages that it occupies.
Every source-separated organic waste composting operation in Kansas needs to meet the same requirements as far as its design and operating procedures are concerned. But the permit requirements depend on the size of the composting area.
The registration form for sites under one-half acre is only one page long, and covers a few straightforward details:
A half acre area may be adequate for very small meat processing operations (a few animals per week at most), but larger operations should plan on filing for a permit (see the "How much space?" section in "Composting for meat processors" for information on estimating composting area requirements).
The permit application requires detailed information on site design, planned operations, and provisions for site closure. You will also need to provide financial assurance, and may need to post a performance bond, if required by the local authority.
To meet the requirements of the regulation, your facility design will need to cover three areas of concern:
To control stormwater, the rules require that you prevent stormwater flowing flowing onto the working area from higher ground (by using berms or other barriers if necessary), that you prevent water from ponding in the area, and that you control runoff and leachate. Although it does not explicitly say so in the regulation, leachate control implies some kind of an impervious surface under the composting area. A clay layer may be sufficient. But in any case, the surface has to be capable of standing up to whatever heavy equipment you may be using for adding and removing material, and for turning the piles.
You will need to post signs identifying the facility, providing the permit number and the name of a person to contact in case of emergencies, and a few additional pieces of information. You will need to provide adequate access to authorized vehicles with suitable roads, and to discourage unauthorized access.
You will also show that you have enough storage capacity to take care of incoming and in-process materials. But the rules discourage piling up of finished compost beyond 18 months. Your plan should therefore include provisions for using the finished material.
You are required to operate the facility in such a way that it does not become a nuisance (and in particular, to control odors, disease vectors, dust, litter, noise, and scavenging). You need to keep incoming material segregated from finished material, and to begin processing incoming material within 24 hours after it arrives. There are other provisions regarding public access (which may not be relevant if the site is used exclusively for the waste generated by your meat processing operation.) Finally, the rules reiterate that you need to remove finished compost within 18 months.
To close the facility, you will need to notify the KDHE in writing at least 60 days in advance. After you stop operating the facility, you will need to remove all material within 10 days, and clean everything that has been in contact with waste material.
You may be required to demonstrate that your organization has set aside the financial resources to cover closure costs or site cleanup. Some forms which may be relevant are collected at the KDPH Bureau of Waste Management download page under the heading "Solid Waste Bond and Letter of Credit Forms".
For additional information on composting regulations in Kansas, you can contact
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
(785) 296-1121
kpowell@kdhe.state.ks.us