Organics recycling and processing for compost producers
Planning a composting facility
Guidelines are available to assist developers in the planning of a well-designed purpose built composting facility.
Facilities require planning consent under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Additional licensing under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 is normally required.
Further information is available in:
- EIS Guideline: Composting and Related Facilities
Department of Planning (1996). Published by DUAP. - Environmental Guidelines: Composting and Related Organics Processing Facilities
Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (2004)
Operating a well managed composting facility
A well-operated composting facility with minimal environment impact can be an important asset to your community. However, poorly managed facilities can have significant impacts on air quality, water quality, litter and local amenity.
Guidelines to assist facilities to better manage their operations:
- Environmental Guidelines: Composting and Related Organics Processing Facilities
Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (2004)
General guidance to help facilities develop process control systems to manufacture product of consistent quality with minimal environmental impact is also available:
- Guide to Developing a Process Control System for a Composting Facility
Recycled Organics Unit (2003). Published by the University of New South Wales.
Compost quality and Australian Standards
Manufacturing of quality compost that meets customer requirements is a necessary part of operating a successful organics recycling facility.
A number of voluntary industry standards published by Standards Australia have been produced to provide guidance to manufacturers.
Compliance with specifications is a useful starting point in manufacturing quality compost and related products with minimal risk to the human health, animal health and the environment.
Australian Standards relevant to recycled organics or compost are:
- Australian Standard AS 4454 (2003). Composts, Soil Conditioners and Mulches.
- Australian Standard AS 3743 (2003). Potting Mixes.
- Australian Standard AS 4419 (2003). Soils for Landscaping and Garden Use.
- Australian Standard AS/NZS 4422 (1996). Playground Surfacing.
Managing contamination
Organic materials received for recycling at licensed composting facilities need to comply with allowed materials specified in the DECC Environment Protection Licence under Part 3 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, and should be relatively free of contaminants, such as glass, plastic, metal and other foreign materials.
Composting facilities should negotiate with generators of organic materials to ensure that materials have an acceptable level of contamination.
DECC has set out preferred maximum limits for contamination in organic materials, such as garden organics, received for processing at composting facilities. This is outlined in the Preferred Resource Recovery Practices by Local Councils.
..............Statutory requirements relating to compost
Manufacturing facilities need to be aware of a range of statutory requirements regarding the use of compost and related input materials used to manufacture compost on land and in the environment.
These regulatory measures are in place to ensure human health, animal health and the environment is protected when organic materials are applied to land.
The following statutory requirements currently relate to the use of compost and related products on land:
- Schedule 1 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997
- Environmental Guidelines: Use and Disposal of Biosolids Products
Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (1997) - Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Amendment (Residue Wastes) Regulation 2005.
Market development work
A range of projects have been completed to assist in developing markets for compost products. A range of technical and market research studies and fact sheets are available:
Urban landscaping
- Performance Benefits of using Recycled Organics in the Environment - Fact Sheets
- Using Compost in Roadside Landscaping - Fact Sheet
- Cost/benefit of Using Recycled Organics in Parks and Gardens Operations in NSW
- Controlling soil erosion on construction sites using compost blankets
- Using Compost Materials on Council Sporting Fileds
Rehabilitation
- Improving Water Quality in Catchments Using Compost Materials - Fact Sheet
- Recycled Organics in Catchment Management - A Review of the Scientific Literature
- Recycled Organics in Catchment Management - Final Report
- Recycled Organics - On Farm Salinity Trials
- Recycled Organics in Mine Site Rehabilitation - A Review of Scientific Literature
- Using compost materials in the construction of community parklands - Fact Sheet
- Risks and benefits associated with using compost prepared from harvested aquatic weed for improving land condition
Intensive agriculture
Extensive agriculture
Other