S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-107.4.III.H

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-107.4.III.H - Quality Assurance and Testing Requirements for Finished Compost

1. Any compost produced from Category Two or Category Three feedstocks and offered for sale or distribution to the public is required to meet the physical and biological standards listed in this section. Composite samples shall be collected, stored and analyzed in accordance with the procedures found in the U.S. Department of Agriculture publication "Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost" (TMECC), or equivalent methodology recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publication SW-846, "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods."

2. Compost from Type One facilities or compost made solely from Category One feedstocks with compliant records of time and temperature monitoring are presumed to meet the standard for biological contaminants and are not required to perform laboratory testing as described in this section.

3. All compost for sale or distribution to the public and produced from feedstocks other than Category One must be tested and meet the designation of Class A Exceptional Quality Compost or be designated for legal disposal, additional processing, or other use as approved by state or federal agencies having appropriate jurisdiction.

4. Class A exceptional quality compost:

a. Contains less than two percent (2%) physical contaminants by dry weight analysis;

b. Has a stability index rating of stable or very stable;

c. Meets Class A pollutant limits found in Table 1; and

d. Meets standards of this regulation for pathogen reduction.

Table 1. Pollutant Standards: Maximum Allowable Concentration

(milligrams per kilogram dry weight)

Pollutant	Class A
Arsenic	41
Cadmium	39
Copper	1500
Lead	300
Mercury	17
Nickel	420
Selenium	100
Zinc	2800

5. The distribution and use of exceptional quality compost is unrestricted and the consumer shall be advised to apply the product at agronomic rates based on product analysis, except that the use and distribution of compost produced from feedstocks generated by facilities permitted pursuant to R.61-67, Standards for Wastewater Facility Construction, shall be subject to all applicable requirements of R.61-9.

6. Compost Testing Frequency. The frequency of laboratory testing for pollutants, biological contaminants, and physical contaminants shall be based on the volume of compost produced annually by the facility as indicated in Table 2:

Table 2. Compost Testing Frequency

Compost Quantity	Frequency
1-2500 tons	1 per quarter (or less as approved)
2501-6250 tons	1 per quarter
6251-17500 tons	1 per 2 months
17501 tons and above	1 per month

7. The composted product shall be analyzed for stability using methods as set forth in the USDA TMECC Section 05.08-A through Section 05.08-F and the Compost Stability Index Table 05.08-1.

8. All compost produced for sale or distribution is required by this regulation to meet the physical and biological contaminant standards in Table 3 by a testing method referenced in this regulation or an equivalent method allowed by the Department:

Table 3. Physical and Biological Contaminants Limits for Compost

Physical contaminants (man-made inerts)	Less than 2 percent dry weight basis
Biological Contaminants (pathogens)
Fecal coliform	Less than 1,000 Most Probable Number (MPN) per gram, dry weight basis
Salmonella	Less than 3 MPN per 4 grams, dry weight basis

a. All product quality assurance testing for pollutant standards and biological contaminants required by this regulation or as requested by the Department shall be performed by a South Carolina certified laboratory and reported in a format acceptable to the Department.

b. All products marketed in South Carolina as a soil amendment or fertilizer shall be registered by the product manufacturer with the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry or as otherwise required by law.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-107.4.III.H

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 38, Issue No. 6, eff 6/27/2014; State Register Volume 45, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/28/2021.