Agricultural Composting Program
 All persons engaged in agricultural pursuits and who are interested in composting organic materials obtained from a source other than their own agricultural operation are required to be registered with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Persons composting organic materials without a registration are subject to the Department of Environmental Protection’s site assignment requirements. The registration application should be completed and mailed to The Department of Agricultural Resources. Yearly Annual Reports will be required in order for a composter to remain registered with the Department.
The Department may register agricultural
composting operations if the Department determines that:
1) the compost operation is located on agricultural unit;
2) the applicant has submitted a completed application;
3) the applicant agrees to a site visit;
4) the applicant demonstrates knowledge and capability to conduct the
agricultural composting operation to produce a stabilized compost product.
If the department finds that any portion of the Agricultural Composting
Registration application includes false or misleading information, or the
operation of a registered composting facility is in violation of the
regulations or guidelines, or is acting not in the best interest of
Massachusetts agriculture, the Department may suspend or revoke the registration
which will also revoke the exemption status and thereby the operator must
comply with DEP Regulations for Determination of Need for Site Assignment as
set forth in 310 CMR 16.05(4).
310 CMR 16.05(4)(c) Agricultural Waste Composting. A
composting operation for agricultural wastes, when located on a farm engaged
in "agriculture" or "farming" as defined in M.G.L. c. 128,
§ 1A. Such composting operation may, in addition to agricultural wastes,
utilize the following compostable materials, provided the operation is
registered and complies with policies of the Department of Agricultural
Resources:
1. leaf and yard waste;
2. wood wastes;
3. clean newspaper or cardboard;
4. clean, compostable (i.e. thin) shells, and clean bones;
5. non-agricultural sources of manures and animal bedding materials;
6. less than 20 cubic yards or less than ten tons per day of vegetative material; and
7. less than ten cubic yards or less than five tons per day of food material.
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