National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008)NoticesNorms and Standards for Organic Waste Composting, 20207. Requirements during Operational Phase |
| (1) | Minimisation of airborne emissions |
| (a) | Operational measures must be put in place to immediately blend a carbon source or cover with mature compost any highly biodegradable organics such as food waste, organic sludge and putrescible waste to minimise offensive odour emissions that may be generated by potentially odorous waste. |
| (b) | Un-surfaced roads, un-grassed or un-paved areas, which give rise to dust, must be regularly watered or other effective dust control measures implemented, to restrict dust to levels which do not pose a threat to human health or the environment. Speed reducing measures such as speed humps and speed limit signage must be introduced. |
| (c) | Organics that are being processed must always be kept reasonably moist (at least 25% (m/m) moisture content) to minimise the emissions of airborne pathogens. |
| (d) | Emissions of methane in aerobic processes must be controlled by keeping the organics being processed adequately aerated. |
| (e) | The schedule of turning of the compost should depend on the composting method being employed at the facility and must conform to the environmental management programme. |
| (f) | Facility management must put measures in place to control high concentrations of airborne particulate matter during pre-treatment (shredding and mixing} of dry organics. · |
| (g) | Employees at composting and related organic-processing operations must be protected against high levels of exposure to airborne particulate matter by ensuring that design features and operational measures are strictly followed and monitored, and appropriate personal protective equipment is worn by employees. |
| (2) | Management of waste generated at the organic waste composting facility |
| (a) | Any liquid and solid waste generated at the organic waste composting facility, including contaminated products and process residuals not suitable for beneficial processing at the organic waste composting facility, must be stored in such a manner as to prevent water and soil pollution and amenity impacts, in accordance with the requirements specified in the Norms and Standards for Storage of Waste published in terms of Government Notice No.926 in Government Gazette No. 37088, on 29 November 2013. |
| (b) | Organic waste composting facilities must comply with the following requirements for the management of waste— |
| (i) | Waste generated at the composting facility must be sorted at source into various categories (recyclables and non-recyclables} and a documented procedure must be implemented to prevent any mixing of hazardous and general waste; |
| (ii) | Liquid waste must be stored in leak resistant containers which must be inspected weekly for early detection of leaks; |
| (iii) | Leachate generated at a composting facility and excess water generated through receiving wet waste must be used on site to increase the moisture content of compost heaps to facilitate decomposition; |
| (iv) | Excess water generated from rainfall, must be used on site to control dust and the dust must not exceed the maximum allowable limits stipulated in the National Dust Control Regulations of Government Notice R.827 of Government Gazette 36974 of 01 November 2013; |
| (v) | The liquid waste containers must be of sufficient strength and structural integrity to ensure that they are unlikely to burst or leak in their ordinary use; |
| (vi) | Waste that is spilled or carried by wind during operation, handling or storage must be contained; |
| (vii) | Hazardous waste must be stored in covered containers that are only opened when waste is added or emptied and the waste must not be kept at levels that trigger other listed activities; |
| (viii) | On-site fuelling and servicing of construction equipment and motor vehicles must only occur on designated impermeable surface within a bunded area; and |
| (ix) | Organic waste composting facilities must register with a Waste Information System in terms of the National Waste Information System Regulations, 2012 published under Government Notice No. R. 625 in Government Gazette No.35583 on 13 August 2012. |
| (3) | Stockpiling of incoming and processed organics |
| (a) | The quantities (tonnage or kilograms) of incoming and process waste must at all times not exceed the design requirements for the receiving storage and processing areas. |
| (b) | The mass (tons or metric tons) of all incoming compostable organic waste must be weighed or estimated by determining the density of the waste and multiplying it by the volume of waste received, and the records thereof must be safely kept at the facility or company office for a period of 5 years. |
| (c) | Operational measures must be put in place to ensure that the storage times for organics are controlled to minimise emissions of offensive odours. |
| (d) | Design and operational measures must prevent contamination of final products. |
| (e) | Other waste streams that have accumulated on site, such as packaging or mixed waste streams must not be stored on site for more than 2 weeks. |
| (4) | Fire and methane gas management |
| (a) | A fire management plan or strategy must be in place and at least contain the following: |
| (i) | Sufficient fire-fighting equipment that is kept in good working conditions and appropriate personal protective equipment for fire safety must be available at the facility at all times; |
| (ii) | There must be clear signage indicating where the fire-fighting equipment is in relation to compost heaps and the equipment must be within a 10 m distance; |
| (iii) | Identified sources of fires that may result at the facility and appropriate operational procedures to be undertaken to bring the fire under control; |
| (iv) | A firebreak with a predetermined width as per the relevant legislation, Local Authority by-laws or Fire Protection Agency or barrier constructed around the perimeter of the site to avoid the spread of fires; |
| (v) | Clear signs in at least two prevalent languages spoken within the area must be in place and should inform the public that flammable substances are not permitted on the site. |
| (b) | The design and operation of aerobic composting must ensure that the generation of methane is minimised. |
| (c) | The design and operational procedures for the organic waste composting facility must ensure that heap heights are limited and heaps are monitored for excessive high temperatures to prevent spontaneous combustion. |
| (5) | Minimising amenity impacts |
| (a) | The organic waste composting facility operator must put in place measures to control pests. |
| (b) | Weeds must be prevented from proliferating at the premises. |
| (c) | Composting facilities that receive alien or invasive vegetation must ensure that seeds do not survive in the compost through seed germination testing. |
| (6) | Water pollution prevention |
| (a) | The organic waste composting facility must be designed and operated in such a manner that surface water and other waste streams are prevented from mixing with organic waste received, processed and stored at the premises, including the final product. |
| (b) | All water that has entered the processing and storage areas must be handled and treated as leachate. |
| (7) | Safe storage and disposal |
| (a) | The design of the organic waste composting facility must include infrastructure to securely store all organics, contaminated products, waste and process residues that cannot be beneficially processed at the facility, until they can be lawfully disposed of at the facility or transferred to another facility. |
| (b) | Proof of waste recycled and all safe disposal certificates including waste manifests must be kept on site at all times. |