| Iowa
composting regulations Rules for on-farm carcass
composting
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Summary
Requirements
Administrative
rules of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources state that
on-farm composting of dead animals generated on the same farm
as the composting facility is exempt from having a permit if:
- Dead animals
are incorporated into the composting process within 24
hours of death and covered with sufficient animal manure,
animal bedding, crop residues or clean wood waste (free
of coatings and preservatives) necessary as bulking
agents and to prevent access by domestic or wild animals.
- Composting is
done in a manner that prevents formation and release of
runoff and leachate and controls odors, flies, rodents
and other vermin.
- Dead animals
are not removed from composting until all flesh, internal
organs, and other soft tissue are fully decomposed.
- Storage of
finished compost shall be limited to 18 months and shall
be applied to cropland or pastureland at rates consistent
with the nitrogen use levels necessary to obtain optimum
crop yields and shall be applied in a manner as to
prevent runoff to surface waters of the state.
- Application
of compost to other lands shall require prior approval by
the department.
- Composting
must be done on an all-weather surface of compacted soil,
compacted granular aggregates, asphalt, concrete or
similar relatively impermeable material that will permit
accessibility during periods of inclement weather and
prevent contamination of surface and groundwater.
- If composting
is done in a permanent structure, composter construction
shall utilize weather and rot-resistant materials capable
of supporting composting operations without damage.
(Although not mandatory, a roof over the composting
facility is recommended to prevent excess moisture
accumula-tion that can lead to production of undesirable
odors and leachate.)
- Composting
must be done outside of wetlands or the 100-year flood
plain and at least 100 feet from private wells, 200 feet
from public wells, 50 feet from property lines, 500 feet
from inhabited residences, and 100 feet from flowing or
intermittent streams, lakes, or ponds.
Iowa
Composting Regulations
Rules of the
Environmental Protection Division of the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources covering composting of all solid wastes,
including animal mortalties, are contained in Iowa Adminstrative Code
Section 105 Organic Materials Composting Facilties.
Department of Agricultural &
Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University