Environmental guidelines: Composting and related organics processing facilities
Contents
Acronyms and abbreviations
1 Introduction
Need for the guidelines
Scope of the guidelines
Who should read these guidelines?
Planning a new composting facility
2 Overview of environmental issues and their management
Air quality
Water pollution
Fire and other potential hazards
Amenity issues
Contamination of organics
3 Regulatory information
Categorisation of incoming organics
Licensing requirements
Environmental management techniques
Alternative methods of measuring performance
Documenting environmental management
Financial provisions and closure plans for the facility
4 Guidelines for satisfying environmental objectives
Issue 1: Odour
Issue 2: Particulate matter
Issue 3: Methane gas management
Issue 4: Emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and non-methane organic compounds
Issue 5: Water pollution
Issue 6: Suitability of incoming organics
Issue 7: Safe storage and disposal of process residuals and contaminated organics
Issue 8: Stockpiling of incoming and processed organics
Issue 9: Noise
Issue 10: Litter
Issue 11: Security of the premises
Issue 12: Fire management
Issue 13: Closure of the facility
5 Minimum design requirements for the protection of waters
1. Working surfaces
2. Leachate barrier system
3. Leachate collection system
4. Leachate storage system
5. Surface water controls
6. Groundwater and subsoil monitoring network
6 Benchmarks for measuring and monitoring performance
Odour
Particulate matter
Emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, non-methane organic compounds and volatile organic compounds
Water pollution
Measuring and recording quantities of organics received
Appendix A: Facility Planning
Location of the facility
Select an appropriate site
Preliminary water assessment of the site
Odour impact assessment
Select appropriate processing equipment
Using the categorisation of incoming organics to select appropriate equipment
The role of alternative technologies
Producing quality compost suitable for market
Appendix B: Environmental management techniques
Using the categorisation system to select appropriate techniques
Minimising odour emissions
Minimising particulate matter emissions
Minimising amenity impacts (including odour and particulate matter)
Preventing water pollution
Environmental quality and management of organics
Fire management
Minimising noise emissions
Adequate staffing and training
Clean-up of pollution incidents
Appendix C: Items to be included in an environmental management plan for a composting or related facility
Appendix D: Items to be included in a water assessment plan for a composting or related composting facility
Glossary
References and bibliography
Legislation
References
Bibliography
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Page last updated: 12 July 2012
