{"id":19090,"date":"2021-08-02T16:42:48","date_gmt":"2021-08-02T20:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/?post_type=article&#038;p=19090"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:16:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:16:38","slug":"washington-2","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/es\/article\/composting-for-community\/washington-2","title":{"rendered":"Washington \u2013 Composting Rules"},"template":"","class_list":["post-19090","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","article_type-state-policy","initiatives-composting-for-community","topics-on-farm-composting","topics-permitting","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":[99,101],"impact_areas":[18],"abstract":"Washington has comprehensive composting regulations that facilitate composting by conditionally exempting several types of composting facilities \u2013 including those that process limited amounts of food scraps \u2013 from the requirement to obtain a permit. Washington also aims to protect the environment and human health by requiring composters to test for pathogens and adhere to specific performance-based standards.","authors_tax":[601]},"sidebar":{"title":"\u00cdndice"},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Washington has comprehensive composting regulations that facilitate composting by conditionally exempting several types of composting facilities \u2013 including those that process limited amounts of food scraps \u2013 from the requirement to obtain a permit. Washington also aims to protect the environment and human health by requiring composters to test for pathogens and adhere to specific performance-based standards.\r\n\r\nPrevious state regulations went into effect on February 10, 2003; however, the solid waste rules were revised in 2013 to include exemptions that reflect the state\u2019s commitment to more efficient composting options, and a new section addressing solid waste permitting for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ecology.wa.gov\/Waste-Toxics\/Reducing-recycling-waste\/Waste-reduction-programs\/Organic-materials\/Anaerobic-digesters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">anaerobic digesters<\/a>. In 2018, the rules were\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov\/law\/wsr\/2018\/17\/18-17PERM.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">further revised<\/a>\u00a0to clarify and refine their applicability to on-farm compost use.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3>Composting Facility Permit Exemptions<\/h3>\r\nThe state of Washington updated the 2003 language of its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.leg.wa.gov\/WAC\/default.aspx?cite=173-350-220\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">solid waste handling regulations<\/a>\u00a0in 2013, removing the former hierarchy of feedstock types, with the state instead describing organic materials as pre- and post-consumer wastes, comprised of either food, animal, or vegetative-based sources. Permitting exemptions are based on the specific site\u2019s feedstock materials, volume of materials on-site, and whether the finished materials are used on-site or distributed off-site.\r\n\r\nTo qualify for an exemption to obtaining a solid waste handling permit, an operation must meet conditions stipulated in Table 220-A of WAC\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.leg.wa.gov\/WAC\/default.aspx?cite=173-350-220\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">173-350-220<\/a>.\u00a0An abbreviated version of Table 220-A is shown below.","":null,"settings":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_basic_html","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_basic_html":{"heading":"","code":"<iframe title=\"\" aria-label=\"Table\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-SsZgG\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/SsZgG\/2\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border: none;\" width=\"600\" height=\"2156\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe>","width":"narrow"}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"<h3>Performance Standards<\/h3>\r\nRegardless of exemption from obtaining a permit, all compost facilities in the state of Washington must adhere to specific performance standards, which are designed to prevent public nuisance and negative environmental or public health consequences.\u00a0These\u00a0performance and site requirements seek to prevent the handling wastes in a manner that could pose hazards\u00a0to\u00a0water and air quality if organic materials were mismanaged. Found in WAC 173-350-040, they are reproduced below:\r\n<blockquote><strong>Performance Standards.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe owner or operator of all solid waste facilities subject to this chapter shall:\r\n\r\n(1) Design, construct, operate, and close all facilities in a manner that does not pose a threat to human health or the environment;\r\n\r\n(2) Comply with chapter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/RCW\/default.aspx?cite=90.48\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">90.48<\/a>\u00a0RCW, Water pollution control and implementing regulations, including chapter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.leg.wa.gov\/WAC\/default.aspx?cite=173-200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">173-200<\/a>\u00a0WAC, Water quality standards for groundwaters of the state of Washington;\r\n\r\n(3) Conform to the approved local comprehensive solid waste management plan prepared in accordance with chapter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/RCW\/default.aspx?cite=70.95\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">70.95<\/a>\u00a0RCW, Solid waste management\u2014Reduction and recycling, and\/or the local hazardous waste management plan prepared in accordance with chapter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/RCW\/default.aspx?cite=70.105\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">70.105<\/a>\u00a0RCW, Hazardous waste management;\r\n\r\n(4) Not cause any violation of emission standards or ambient air quality standards at the property boundary of any facility and comply with chapter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/RCW\/default.aspx?cite=70.94\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">70.94<\/a>\u00a0RCW, Washington Clean Air Act; and\r\n\r\n(5) Comply with all other applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.<\/blockquote>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h4>M\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Washington Administrative Code, Title 173, Section 350-40 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.leg.wa.gov\/WAC\/default.aspx?cite=173-350-040\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Solid Waste Facility Performance Standards<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Washington Administrative Code, Title 173, Section 350-100 \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.leg.wa.gov\/WAC\/default.aspx?cite=173-350-100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Solid Waste Definitions<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Washington Administrative Code, Title 173, Section 350-220 \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.leg.wa.gov\/WAC\/default.aspx?cite=173-350-220\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Composting Facilities<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecy.wa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Washington Department of Ecology<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ecology.wa.gov\/Waste-Toxics\/Reducing-recycling-waste\/Organic-materials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organic Materials Management<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\r\nOriginal post from July 30, 2012\r\nUpdated August 2, 2021","":null,"settings":""}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Washington \u2013 Composting Rules | Composting for Community<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Composting for Community article by Brenda Platt explores On-farm Composting and Permitting, focusing on Food Security\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ilsr.org\/es\/article\/composting-for-community\/washington-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Washington \u2013 Composting Rules | Composting for Community\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Composting for Community article by Brenda Platt explores On-farm Composting and Permitting, focusing on Food 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