Compost Facilities
Compost facilities must register with the Ohio EPA by calling (614) 644-2621. There is no license or permit fee required for Class III and IV composting facilities. For Class I and II facilities, a solid waste license is required in addition to the registration. Contact Ohio EPA for more information.
Hamilton County Public Health sanitarians also inspect these facilities to ensure proper waste acceptance, water management and material tracking.
Authorized Feedstock Types
Depending on a facility’s classification, there are several types of materials that compost facilities can take:
- Type A - Yard waste
- Type B - Agricultural plant material
- Type C - Animal waste
- Type D - Vegetables, fruits, grains
- Type E - Dairy and meat
- Type F - Rendering
- Type G - Domestic animal carcasses
- Type H - Wild animal carcasses
- Type I - Other source separated organics
- Type J - Non-source separated materials
Compost Classifications
Class I - Composting facility that accepts feedstock types A, B, C, D, E, I, J, bulking agents and additives. May also accept types F, G and H after obtaining the director's approval. Requires a permit-to-install application through the Ohio EPA.
Class II - Composting facility that accepts feedstock types A, B, C, D, E; may utilize bulking agents such as wood chips, straw, shredded newspaper, shredded cardboard, sawdust and/or shredded brush as well as other materials after approval of the director of the OEPA; and other additives. May also accept types F, G, H and I after obtaining director's approval. Has additional requirements under solid waste disposal licenses.
Class III - Composting facility that accepts feedstock types A, B, C, bulking agents and additives. The facility site is limited to less that 15,000 square yards of total area.
Class IV - Composting facility that accepts only source-separated yard waste and may utilize bulking agents as in Class II. (Feedstock types A only, bulking agents and additives limited to urea and bacterial or fungal inoculum.)