National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008)NoticesNorms and Standards for Organic Waste Composting, 20205. Requirements for the Design and Construction of an Organic Waste Composting Facility |
| (1) | An organic waste composting facility must not be constructed in an environmentally sensitive area such as a floodplain, water resource, wetland and any other conservation or protected area, and it must conform to zoning requirements as determined by the relevant local authority. |
| (2) | An organic waste composting facility must be constructed in an area that is accessible to emergency response personnel and equipment. |
| (3) | Containment barriers must be risk based, and the type of waste to be processed and the immediate receiving environment must be considered to quantify the type of containment barriers to put in place in consultation with the provincial authority. The containment barriers must be practical and be able to withstand the heavy machinery associated with the composting activities where applicable. |
| (4) | If required, based on the composting method that will be used, a leachate collection system must be designed, and it must prevent both ground and surface water pollution, soil pollution and odour problems. |
| (5) | The construction and operational times, as well as noise levels must comply with relevant applicable legislation, including municipal by-laws in order to minimise the impact of noise on the surrounding properties. |
| (6) | The approach road to the organic waste composting facility must have a hard surface for heavy vehicles, offloading compostable material, to prevent muddy areas during the wet seasons. |
| (7) | An area under construction must be demarcated to prevent unauthorised access during the construction phase. |
| (8) | An organic waste composting facility must be designed and constructed in such a manner that the finished compost which has been fully treated is not contaminated with the run-off from untreated or partially treated compost, waste or raw materials. |
| (9) | The design of an organic waste compositing facility must include diverting stormwater from rainfall events, away from the working or storage area. |