{"id":19044,"date":"2021-07-08T21:35:30","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T01:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/?post_type=article&#038;p=19044"},"modified":"2024-06-28T11:31:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T15:31:21","slug":"massachusetts-2","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/es\/article\/composting-for-community\/massachusetts-2","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts: Normas sobre compostaje"},"template":"","class_list":["post-19044","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","article_type-state-policy","initiatives-composting-for-community","topics-permitting","topics-zero-waste","impact_areas-climate-and-environmental-justice","impact_areas-food-security","authors-brenda-platt"],"acf":{"details":{"featured_image":"","background_color":"tan","article_type":[36],"initiative":15,"display_event_fields":false,"start_date":null,"end_date":null,"start_time":null,"end_time":null,"time_zone":"America\/New_York","virtual_event":false,"location":"","topics":[101,121],"impact_areas":[16,18],"abstract":"Massachusetts modified its composting rules in 2012 to \u201cbetter accommodate the siting of anaerobic digesters and other new technologies.\u201d Revisions to the state\u2019s laws on assigning sites for waste processing facilities (310 CMR 16.00) aimed to increase organic waste diversion into small-scale composting projects while simultaneously increasing the amount of renewable energy produced from anaerobic digestion. Another related development in the Massachusetts waste laws during the early 2010s was a state-wide ban on commercial and institutional food waste from entering landfills and incinerators, which took effect in 2014.","authors_tax":[601]},"sidebar":{"title":"\u00cdndice"},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Massachusetts modified its\u00a0composting rules in 2012 to \u201cbetter accommodate the siting of anaerobic digesters and other new technologies.\u201d\u00a0Revisions to the state\u2019s laws on assigning sites for waste processing facilities (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/regulations\/310-CMR-1600-site-assignment-for-solid-waste-facilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">310 CMR 16.00<\/a>) aimed\u00a0to increase organic waste diversion into <a href=\"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/articles\/growing-local-fertility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">small-scale composting<\/a> projects while simultaneously increasing the amount of renewable energy produced from anaerobic digestion.\u00a0Another related development in the Massachusetts waste laws during the early 2010s was a state-wide\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/articles\/massachusetts-organics-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ban on commercial and institutional food waste<\/a>\u00a0from entering landfills and incinerators, which took effect in 2014.\r\n<h3>General Composting Permits<\/h3>\r\nUnder <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/310-cmr-1600-site-assignment-for-solid-waste-facilities\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">310 CMR\u00a016.04<\/a>, Massachusetts allows certain types of composting operations to function\u00a0under a general permit and thus to be conditionally exempt from obtaining a site permit.\u00a0Specific performance standards must be\u00a0met, and\u00a0exempt operations include leaf and yard waste composters who have less than 10,000 tons on-site at one time (5,000 maximum per acre), so long as the material is composed of less than 25% grass clippings. Such facilities must also either register with the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), or generate all their leaf\/yard debris on-site.\r\n\r\nIn addition, <a href=\"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/articles\/on-farm-composting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">on-farm composting<\/a>\u00a0is also permissible under\u00a0a general rather than site permit, provided the farm\u2019s setup meets performance standards.\u00a0General permits are available for those composting\u00a0up to\u00a020 cubic yards per week\u00a0of vegetative materials, food scraps, and animal manure generated on-site, and then combining with bulking materials (either generated on- or off-site). Allowing\u00a0agricultural composters to\u00a0accept materials from off-site generators of waste under\u00a0Massachusetts regulations\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/regulations\/330-CMR-25-agricultural-composting-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">330 CMR 25.00<\/a>) further lowers\u00a0barriers to obtaining a steady supply of compost feedstock.\r\n\r\nThose wishing to compost on-farm\u00a0need only submit a registration application and comply with the policies outlined by the Department of Agricultural Resources.\u00a0The Department\u00a0considers applications based on the location of the composting operation, the operator\u2019s willingness to allow site visits, and the operator\u2019s knowledge of composting practices.\u00a0If the Department approves the application, a\u00a0compost operation may accept:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>leaf and yard waste<\/li>\r\n \t<li>wood wastes<\/li>\r\n \t<li>clean newspaper or cardboard<\/li>\r\n \t<li>clean, compostable (i.e. thin) shells, and clean bones<\/li>\r\n \t<li>non-agricultural sources of manures and animal bedding materials<\/li>\r\n \t<li>less than 20 cubic yards (i.e. less than 10 tons) per day of vegetative material<\/li>\r\n \t<li>less than 10 cubic yards (i.e. less than 5 tons) per day of food material.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Organics Recycling, Composting, and Conversion (RCC) Operations<\/h3>\r\nFor operations larger than the exempt parties detailed above, an RCC permit must be acquired. RCC operations differ from other waste processing facilities in that they do not require a site assignment nor a solid waste facility permit. Such operations must, however, meet certain requirements\u00a0to ensure no nuisances are posed to\u00a0nearby people or\u00a0the safety of the environment.\r\n\r\nIn order to be granted\u00a0an RCC permit, the composter must comply with the suitability criteria found in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/310-cmr-1600-site-assignment-for-solid-waste-facilities\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">310 CMR 16.05<\/a>. Among other stipulations, this regulation requires: a general description of the recyclable or compostable material; identification of the quantity, quality and sources of the recyclable or compostable material;\u00a0the proposed method(s) for recycling or composting the material; and appropriate documentation that markets or uses exist for the compost, recyclable materials or products.\r\n<h3>Ban on Yard Trimmings in Landfills or Incinerators<\/h3>\r\nIn the early 1990s, Massachusetts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/guides\/massdep-waste-disposal-bans#-about-the-waste-bans-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">banned disposal or incineration of yard trimmings<\/a>. State solid waste regulations (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/310-cmr-19000-solid-waste-management-facility-regulations\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">310 CMR\u00a019.017<\/a>) give\u00a0MassDEP\u00a0authority to restrict the \u201cdisposal of [a material if] the material presents a potential adverse impact to public health, safety or the environment.\u201d In addition, the department may create a restriction or prohibition of a specific material if the restriction \u201cwill result in the extension of the useful life or capacity of a facility or class of facilities.\u201d Restricted materials include, but are not limited to: lead batteries, leaves and other yard trimmings, recyclable paper, aluminum, and tires.\r\n\r\nAccording to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/2010-2020-solid-waste-master-plan-a-pathway-to-zero-waste\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Massachusetts 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan<\/a> (p. 7), organics make up \u201cmore than 1 million tons of Massachusetts municipal solid waste on an annual basis.\u201d The most recently available\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/eea\/agencies\/massdep\/recycle\/reports\/waste-reduction-and-recycling.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Solid Waste &amp; Recycling Survey<\/a> found that Massachusetts municipalities reported collected 155,702 tons of yard waste in 2020 alone.\r\n\r\nBy allowing for a mix of compost operations at different scales in order to cut out the yard trimmings fraction of its waste stream, Massachusetts hopes to achieve a robust and well-developed composting infrastructure.\u00a0Furthermore, the state aims to expand infrastructure capacity through economic incentives as a means to further divert organic\u00a0wastes from disposal in the near future.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4><strong>More Information:<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>UMassAmherst Extension Service\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ag.umass.edu\/fact-sheets\/yard-waste-management-in-massachusetts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yard Waste Management in MA<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Full text of MA Site Assignment Regulations for Solid Waste Facilities \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/310-cmr-1600-site-assignment-for-solid-waste-facilities\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chapter 310 CMR 16.40 &amp; 16.50<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Full text of MA Waste Disposal Ban Regulations\u00a0\u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/310-cmr-19000-solid-waste-management-facility-regulations\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chapter 310 CMR 19.017<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>MassDEP \u2013 Organics Study and Action Plan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/massachusetts-organics-study-action-plan-february-2017\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2017 version<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>MassDEP \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/guides\/solid-waste-master-plan#-the-draft-2030-solid-waste-master-plan-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2030 Solid Waste Master Plan\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>MassDEP \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/eea\/agencies\/massdep\/climate-energy\/energy\/anaerobic-digestion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anaerobic Digestion<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>MassDEP \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/eea\/agencies\/massdep\/recycle\/reduce\/composting-and-organics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Composting and Organics<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\r\nOriginal post from July 30, 2012\r\nUpdated July 8, 2021<\/p>","":null,"settings":""}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Massachusetts \u2013 Composting Rules 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