Public hearing #2: Proposed rule language

Washington’s organics management laws are driving recovery of more organic material statewide, and the Legislature mandates Ecology to write rules to ensure that physical contamination in organic materials is properly managed. Therefore, Ecology is proposing amendments to the solid waste handling standards related to organic materials management under Chapter 173-350 WAC to account for modern technology and common handling practices.

The proposed rule includes:

• A contamination limit of 5 percent by volume for material coming into all organic material management facilities.
• Changes to handling standards for compost facilities, anaerobic digesters, outdoor piles for storage or treatment, and other forms of organic materials management.
• New standards for organic material pre-processing facilities that remove excessive contamination in highly contaminated loads. Pre-processing would be required for loads that have contamination above the 5 percent incoming contamination limit.
• Stricter contamination limits for finished products leaving organic materials management facilities.
• Standardized training requirements for all organic materials management facilities.
• Simplified permit requirements for engineering documents.
• Clarifications to the coverage of exempt activities at permitted sites.
• Several new permit exemptions for agricultural and small-scale composting operations.
• Clarifications to onsite storage and transportation requirements for solid waste.

Ecology will host public hearings on the rule proposal. At each public hearing, Ecology will provide:

• A presentation on the proposed rule language
• A Q&A session
• An opportunity for participants to provide formal oral comment on the proposed rule

To participate in one of the public hearings on this proposed rule, please register in advance. After registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the meeting. Verbal comments provided during the hearings receive the same consideration as written comments provided during the comment period.