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Back to Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

Schedule 6

(Section 23)

GENERAL SITING, DESIGN AND OPERATING CRITERIA FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES AND HAULAGE SYSTEMS

This Annex presents general criteria that should be used in the siting, design and operation of the following waste management facilities: (i) landfills; (ii) composting facilities; (iii) facilities for processing recyclable materials; and (v) steam sterilization (autoclave) facilities.

Different types of waste management facilities have different types of design and operating criteria associated with them and criteria that are appropriate for one type of facility are often not relevant for another type of facility. In addition, criteria for some facilities may be site specific and although a design or operating parameter may be identified in this Annex the value that is associated with the parameter may depend on site specific circumstances. Where this is the case, the parameter is identified in this document and guidance is provided regarding how specific values should be developed for the parameter.

Although there is no single source of international standards for waste management facilities and operations, the standards presented in this Annex are consistent with international practice. In all cases, the standards identified in this Annex should be considered minimum standards. Countries may wish to adopt more stringent standards in accordance with their own priorities.

LANDFILLS

Of all waste management facilities, landfills are generally the most complex to site and also have stringent design and operating criteria associated with them.

Community and social issues associated with landfills may be difficult to address to the satisfaction of all parties, and are often more difficult to resolve than engineering and other technical issues.

LANDFILL SITING

Negative Impacts Associated With Landfill Site Locations

The siting of landfills and associated infrastructure (e.g. access roads) may have the following negative impacts —

1. Use of land previously under some other use or with potential for some other use.

2. Destruction of natural habitat.

3. Impact on threatened or endangered species.

4. Encroachment on communities.

5. Requirement for purchase or expropriation of private property.

6. Resettlement of squatters.

7. Impact on archaeological or other heritage resources.

It is frequently the case that it is not possible to identify a suitable land area required for a landfill or associated infrastructure without incurring one or more of these impacts. Landfill siting criteria should therefore be established at the outset of a landfill siting initiative that set out —

1. Whether there are any areas that will not be considered for a landfill even though they may be socially, geologically and financially suitable. Such areas might include —

(i) those in which threatened or endangered species live,

(ii) habitat essential to the survival of threatened or endangered species, or

(iii) areas in which irreplaceable archaeological or cultural resources are located. Generally, international financial institutions and donor countries will not provide financing to landfills that negatively impact threatened or endangered species. Landfills requiring forced resettlement may also not be eligible for financing from such institutions or countries.

2. The relative importance of geologic, economic, environmental, social and other factors in determining where new landfill and associated infrastructure should be located. Proven engineering solutions usually exist to mitigate all negative impacts that would otherwise be associated with a new landfill, except for those associated with habitat or species loss or loss of archaeological or cultural resources. In this sense, resolving landfill siting issues can be seen as an economic issue and the relative importance assigned to landfill siting factors may reflect the costs of mitigating negative impacts associated with siting a landfill in a location that is less than ideal.

Landfill Siting Criteria. The following landfill siting criteria are recommended for adoption —

The siting of a landfill in the following locations will be prohibited —

1. Areas that impact threatened or endangered flora or fauna.

2. Areas that disturb habitat on which such flora or fauna are dependent.

3. National parks or other areas reserved to preserve or conserve natural, cultural or archaeological heritage.

To the extent possible, landfills and associated infrastructure will be located in areas that meet the following criteria —

1. Soils underlying the landfill will have a minimum depth of 3 feet and a uniform water permeability of 10-6 cm/second or less.

2. Topography will minimize the extent of civil works necessary to prepare the landfill.

3. Land on which the landfill will be located will have been previously used for waste disposal.

4. The landfill will be located in proximity to the centre of waste generation within the region served by the landfill in order to minimize the costs of waste haulage.

5. Landfills will be adjacent to a road suitable for heavy vehicle use in all seasons.

6. Landfills will be in rain shadows or other areas of low rainfall.

7. Landfills will be in an area where the prevailing winds are of low velocity and blow offshore.

8. Areas not susceptible to wind or water damage as a result of a hurricane or storm will be favoured for landfill location.

9. Areas not traversed by rivers and streams, or in the 100 year flood plain of a river or stream will be favoured for landfill location.

10. Areas not underlain by an aquifer, and particularly one that is used for drinking water or watering of livestock, will be avoided in siting landfills.

11. Landfills will be located in areas that offer a spatial buffer of at least 100 metres from any community, national park or other area reserved to preserve or conserve natural, cultural or archaeological heritage.

12. The nearest point of the fill area will not be closer than 50 yards to a home or hospital.

13. Landfills will be located in areas that do not impinge unreasonably on existing or planned economic activities, such as on land used for agriculture or on or adjacent to land with potential for tourism development.

14. Areas that require the forced resettlement of individuals will not be favoured for landfill.

As indicated above, it is likely that the siting of a landfill will not be possible without contravening one or more of these siting criteria. The criteria should therefore be weighted according to both the significance of government policies affecting each (to the extent that such policies exist) and according to the economic cost of mitigating the negative impacts of criteria that are insufficiently addressed. This process will tend to discourage the siting of a landfill in a location that result in impingement on government policy and in locations that will incur unreasonably high costs to mitigate the natural and social insufficiencies of the location. Public input into this process of weighting siting criteria may be useful and may result in increased public buy-in to the siting process. Potential landfill locations can then be evaluated against the weighted siting parameters and the preferred location can be identified.

DESIGN STANDARDS

Following the siting of a landfill, design standards are necessary to minimise the impact of a landfill on the adjacent environment. Design standards that are adopted in any particular instance will be a function of the extent to which a landfill site satisfies the siting criteria set out above and the sensitivity of environmental and community receptors to negative impacts caused by a landfill.

The following design philosophies and standards should be adopted as minimum requirements associated with landfill design.

General Considerations.—All landfill facilities and components should be designed to minimize negative impacts on the environment and communities during construction. Zones of land disturbance should not extend beyond the area occupied by the landfill and associated buffer, and should not extend beyond the ditches that may be constructed to either side of the access road.

Specific Considerations.—The following specific design standards and design philosophies should be established —

1. Storm water control.—Storm water control refers to the management of surface water flowing into or over a landfill site. Storm water entering a landfill can disrupt landfilling operations, flood the landfill, carry detritus from the landfill and increase leachate quantities. Landfill designs should ensure that drainage works are incorporated into landfill design to —

(i) intercept any watercourses (permanent or seasonal) that cross the landfill site, and

(ii) catch and divert surface water that may enter the landfill during or following a precipitation event whether or not such water is in a “watercourse”.

Drainage works should be sized to ensure that surface water will not enter the landfill even under the most extreme conditions under which the landfill will operate, which may be defined to equate to a once in 25 years storm. Drainage works carrying storm water from a landfill site should discharge to a watercourse or the marine environment. If this is not feasible, storm water should be discharged into the natural environment in such a way that the velocity and quantity of water so discharged does not result in erosion of the land onto which the discharge takes place.

A storm water retention pond should typically be included in the stormwater management system to regulate the rate of discharge of stormwater to the receiving environment, and to allow the settling of sediments carried by stormwater.

2. Leachate collection.—Leachate is the term used to describe the liquid generated by landfill sites. Leachate generation is a function of 2 factors —

(i) the decomposition of waste in the landfill, and

(ii) precipitation draining through the landfill. Leachate typically is characterised by elevated levels of a variety of environmental contaminants, particularly those creating high biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels and levels of heavy metals, that may cause extensive impairment of water quality and populations of natural organisms. The negative effect of landfill leachate may be mitigated by natural soil processes and dilution. The probable impact of leachate on the environment may be modelled to determine the likely impact of leachate on receptors. The reliability of such modelling has often not been high; however, when data inputs are based on assumptions for want of reliable, time-series data. As a consequence, jurisdictions in North America and Europe are increasingly adopting specific leachate quality criteria and regulatory design criteria.

In order to protect against the uncontrolled release of leachate, the permeability of the landfill base should be no greater than 10-6 centimetres/second throughout the top 3 feet of the ground immediately beneath the base of the engineered fill if there are receptors down gradient from the landfill that are sensitive to high BOD levels or any of the parameters recommended to be monitored, see below. There should be no cracks or porous zones within this depth. Achievement of this standard may require the placement of natural or artificial materials. Alternatively, a synthetic landfill liner may be installed to prevent the escape of leachate. Such a liner should have flexibility to absorb the pressures of landfilling that will be undertaken in the landfill and should be installed according to engineering specifications recommended by the supplier and verified by a qualified engineer.

The base of all cells in a landfill should be designed with a minimum 3 percent slope. Leachate collection pipes or drains should be installed at the downhill end of the slope and should be designed to carry leachate to a retention pond. Subject to site specific recommendations of a design consultant, the leachate retention pond should be sized to accommodate leachate generation associated with the wettest one month period in 25 years and should preferably be located at the lowest point of the landfill site.

3. Leachate treatment.—The extent of appropriate leachate treatment is a function of the sensitivity of receptors to leachate. “Conventional” leachate treatment employs similar processes to sewage treatment. However, this may be unaffordable. Alternatives include —

(i) re-circulation of landfill leachate onto the covered surface of the landfill – this may result in development of a salt hardpan on the soil surface, necessitating periodic scarifying of soils,

(ii) creation of artificial wetlands to treat landfill leachate, an approach that may be highly effective in OECS countries, and

(iii) extended aeration and mixing.

4. Landfill gas collection.—Landfill gas is a collective description of the gases produced by decomposition processes in a landfill; these gases include methane (an explosive gas), odorous gases and gases that are toxic to vegetation if they reach the roots of the vegetation. In the absence of an ability to vent to the atmosphere, landfill gases may migrate from the area of the landfill into adjacent soils, where they may kill vegetation or vent through buildings, causing unpleasantness or risk of explosion.

To counter this problem, landfill designs should include the installation of gas vents that allow landfill gas to escape to the atmosphere. The effective number and configuration of the vents will be a function of the landfill site and filling sequence.

5. Erosion control.—All interim and final contours should be required to be seeded or planted with dense, but shallow, rooted species to hold soils in place without disturbing buried waste. Final slopes should not normally be steeper than 3:1.

6. Noise control.—Noise associated with landfill operations may be minimised by a physical barrier between the landfill and adjacent lands at similar elevation. If no natural barrier is present, a berm of up to 3 metres in height may be effective.

7. Litter control.—The escape of litter from a landfill site can be prevented through erection of a 1.8 metre (minimum) high perimeter fence, combined with effective operational controls (see below).

8. Site security.—In some instances, the physical features associated with the location of a landfill may result in high levels of site security; for example, a landfill located in a quarry in which rock faces effectively prevent entry by unauthorized persons. Wherever physical characteristics of a landfill site do not prevent entry of unauthorized persons, a 1.8 metre (minimum) chain link fence should be erected around the perimeter of the landfill. This fence will meet the requirement for litter control, see above.

Entry to the landfill should be controlled by a staffed gatehouse located at the entry to the landfill; no other entry point to the landfill should exist. A lockable gate should be used to prevent entry during times that the landfill is closed. Days and hours of landfill operation should be stated in clear lettering on a sign measuring 1 metre by 0.7 metres (minimum dimensions).

9. Flexibility of operation.—Waste management operations other than landfilling may be appropriately conducted within a landfill site property.

In particular, these operations include centralized composting, separation/processing of recyclable wastes and storage of wastes that may require ultimate management elsewhere. Landfills should be designed to accommodate the range of facilities that may appropriately be sited at the landfill location.

10. Access roads.—Access to the landfill should be by all weather road designed and constructed to carry heavy-duty vehicles. Crossings of watercourses should be by culvert or by single-span structures; structures should not be built in watercourses. Watercourse crossings should be designed to withstand flood conditions (once in 25 year storms).

11. Closure plan.—The preparation of designs for a landfill should identify the steps and measures to be taken to close the landfill at the end of its useful life in order to ensure that the landfill does not result in negative environmental and social impacts following its use.

OPERATING STANDARDS

Operating standards ensure that following the design and construction of a landfill, operations are conducted in such a way as to ensure that the landfill operates with a minimum of negative impact on the environment and on adjacent communities. The following operating standards should be adopted as minimum standards for the operation of landfills.

1. Acceptable waste types.—Only wastes for which a landfill is designed should be accepted at the landfill site. Where facilities other than those associated with landfilling are implemented at a landfill site (e.g. centralized composting, separation/processing of recyclable wastes etc), management and operational procedures should be put in place to ensure that particular loads of waste are directed to the appropriate location within the landfill site area —

2. Site security.—All vehicles entering the landfill should be recorded and should be required to produce a valid permit for the waste that they haul, consistent with country requirements for such permits. Any vehicle operator that produces a permit that is not valid for the vehicle that is being operated should be reported immediately to the senior operational officer of the national waste management entity. However, the vehicle should be permitted entry to the landfill site for the purpose of discharging the waste.

All vehicles entering the site should be required to travel as directed by the landfill attendant, and should be required to deposit their waste only where and when directed by the attendant. Vehicles should be required to proceed as directed by the attendant for the purposes of recording the weight of waste in the vehicle, billing arrangements etc.

No person should be allowed to enter the landfill site unless they are a duly authorized employee working or with business at the landfill site, a person who wishes to deposit waste, or other person with the written permission of the senior operational officer of the waste management entity to enter the site. Any individual or group of individuals permitted entry who is not an employee at the site or in the business of depositing waste should be accompanied on-site by a site employee for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the individual while on-site. Any individual on-site without authority should be requested to leave unless they have legitimate business at the site; the assistance of the police should be requested if the individual is uncooperative.

3. Landfill cells.—Landfills should be operated on the basis of cells that should be constructed and implemented according to a pre-determined sequence and according to the rate of filling of previous cells. The location of future cells may be used for parallel activities such as centralized composting or aspects of waste processing that do not require fixed facilities until such time as the future cell requires construction. At that time, the activities that had been undertaken on the land required for the new cell may be moved to the cell that has been closed.

4. Storm water management.—Temporary storm water management systems, such as ditches, should be installed to prevent the entry of storm water falling on the site to areas where waste is being actively managed.

Temporary storm water management facilities should tie into the facility's stormwater retention pond. The pond should be dredged periodically, as necessary to ensure that the capacity of the pond is maintained; sediment may be used as landfill cover. The banks of the pond and permanent ditches should be vegetated with plants characterised by dense root mats to prevent erosion. The point of discharge from the pond as well as all ditches should be checked periodically and after major storms and debris should be removed.

5. Leachate management.—Any valves associated with the leachate collection system should be periodically checked and maintained as necessary, together with any pumps and other movable pieces of equipment. Manholes should be checked and sediment should be removed periodically. Entry into manholes should not be undertaken, as landfill gas may have built up creating conditions dangerous to human health; work in manholes should be undertaken with caution due to the risk of explosion if landfill gas concentrations have built up. Leachate collection piping should be flushed annually.

6. Landfill gas management.—Landfill gas vents should be installed according to the schedule established in the design of the landfill. The vents should be clearly marked so that they are not damaged by heavy equipment. Three options exists for landfill gas management —

(i) the vents can passively allow the escape of landfill gas to the atmosphere,

(ii) the gas can be flared, which burns the methane (a major “greenhouse gas”) in landfill gas and greatly reduces the contribution of the gas to the “greenhouse effect”, or

(iii) the landfill gas can be collected and used to run a turbine to generate electricity.

7. Application of cover materials.—Waste should be covered at the end of each working day. If soil is used, at least 10 centimetres of soil should be used to cover the waste. Use of soil results in loss of landfill capacity. A geosynthetic material may be applied as an alternative, and removed the following day.

A completed cell should have an additional 15 centimetres (minimum) of interim cover material added to it if a waste lift is to be constructed above the cell in future. A final cover of 1 metre (minimum), of which the top 15 centimetre (minimum) should be topsoil, should be applied to the final contours of the landfill. Interim and final covers should be planted or seeded with species that have dense, but shallow, root mats in order to prevent erosion of the cover material while at the same time not disturbing the buried waste.

8. Access roads.—Access roads should be maintained in good year round repair suitable for use by heavy vehicles. Ditches should be kept free of debris.

9. Access to working face.—Temporary roads should be constructed on-site to allow access to the working face of the landfill. These roads should be made of granular materials and graded to encourage the shedding of water.

Where roads cross steep slopes, such as the working face or for access to upper waste lifts, the roads should be constructed to follow a diagonal route across the slope. When the roads are no longer needed, the materials should be excavated to construct new roads, as necessary, and the route of the old road should be excavated to a depth of 1 metre and backfilled with coarse material to ensure the downward migration of leachate towards the leachate collection system.

10. Site facilities.—All site structures should be maintained in good repair. All signs should be maintained in good repair and should be clearly and easily legible.

11. Equipment.—Site equipment should be maintained in a state of good working order. Maintenance schedules should be adhered to, no unauthorized use – on-site or off-site – of equipment should be entertained, and necessary repairs should be promptly undertaken by qualified staff. Equipment should be securely stored in a weatherproof building.

12. Dust control.—Water should be applied to working surfaces as necessary to control dust. Stockpiles of cover material should be compacted and, if not to be used for a period of at least 6 months, should be seeded with a suitable groundcover to control dust. The access road should be kept swept so that dust is not thrown up by heavy vehicles.

13. Litter control.—All vehicles hauling wastes should be required to cover their loads. Portable litter control fences of approximately 3.5 metres high should be placed immediately downwind of the working face of the landfill to catch any litter that is blown by the wind. The perimeter fence will catch litter that escapes the litter control fence. Litter should be removed from both fences daily or as needed to maintain sanitary conditions at the site.

After significant wind events, areas immediately beyond the landfill should be checked to determine if litter has escaped the landfill and any such litter should be collected. The size of the working face should be minimized and waste deposited at the working face should be promptly covered. All waste deposited should be covered at the end of the working day.

14. Noise control.—Noise at the landfill property boundary should not exceed 70 decibels for more than 5 minutes at a time during the working hours of the landfill; if residential neighbourhoods are located in close proximity, efforts should be made to reduce this level further. All motors should be equipped with sound muffling devices in good working order. The landfill should normally be operated only between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00.

15. Odour control.—The working face of the landfill should be kept as small as possible and waste should be covered at the earliest opportunity; all waste should be covered at the end of the working day. Particularly odorous wastes should be covered immediately. Cover should be inspected periodically to identify gaps in cover, washouts, uncapped wells or boreholes or other routes by which odour might escape from the buried waste. If odour is detected at the leachate retention pond, the pond should be agitated; if odour persists, the pond should be equipped with aerators.

16. Vector/vermin control.—Vectors are attracted by standing water and all potential causes of standing water should be removed, except for the storm water retention pond and leachate retention pond. If either of these attract vectors they should be treated with the minimum amount of insecticide necessary to remedy the problem, but not so much as to interfere with biological function in the receiving water course or environment. Surfaces within the landfill should be filled or graded to prevent the ponding of water. Materials in which water may pond should not be exposed to wet weather in such a way as to allow accumulation of water at the site.

Vermin are attracted to rotting or decaying waste and should be controlled by application of many of the procedures associated with odour control (see 15 above). A persistent vermin problem should be addressed by a licensed pest control officer or exterminator.

17. Bird control.—Cover materials should be promptly applied to the waste deposited at the landfill. In the event of continuing bird problems, bird scare techniques such as use of a device to issue periodic, random loud noise bursts may be used, provided such devices do not unreasonably interfere with adjacent populations of wild animals and birds.

18. Worker health and safety.—Protective clothing to be worn at the site should include hearing protection to be worn by equipment operators and those working in the vicinity of heavy equipment, hard hats, gloves, safety glasses or goggles, safety vest, steel-capped safety boots, and, for those operating heavy equipment or working on or in the vicinity of the landfill, dust mask.

This equipment should be issued to employees and it should be a condition of employment that it is worn during working hours.

All local occupational health and safety requirements should be observed. In addition, to the extent they are not explicitly covered by such requirements, the following should be undertaken —

(i) rejection of all prohibited wastes from disposal,

(ii) inspection of all loads of waste tipped at the working face and separation of any suspicious wastes of unknown origin,

(iii) driving only on designated landfill roads,

(iv) use of safety cones and signage to clearly direct traffic movements,

(v) assurance of immediate deep burial at least 2 metres deep of quarantine waste,

(vi) maintenance of clear separation distance between heavy equipment and the unloading of waste at the working face of the landfill,

(vii) ensure that no loitering takes place at the working face,

(viii) ensure that only those actively unloading waste leave their vehicle and then only for the purpose of unloading the waste.

Heavy equipment should be inspected for visible signs of wear and tear before use each day. If there is evidence of wear and tear that may compromise the safety of the equipment, the problems should be documented, reported and the equipment repaired before use. Equipment should travel slowly, not normally exceeding 5 mph. Loader buckets should be carried low and all heavy equipment should be fitted with a back-up warning signal and strobe light for automatic use when proceeding in reverse. No equipment should be used that has not been maintained according to its maintenance schedule. Clear separation of at least 5 yards should be maintained between vehicles depositing waste at the tipping face and heavy equipment.

19. Emergency Response.—The landfill operator will maintain fire-extinguishing capacity sufficient to extinguish small fires, and will activate that capacity as necessary. Fires will be reported by the landfill operator to the Fire Department, if one exists, immediately.

Spills of flammable, hazardous or environmentally-contaminating materials will immediately be contained. The following absorbent materials will be used to clean up spills of liquids, all of which should be stored at the landfill in sufficient quantity to absorb a minimum of 200 litres spilled—

(i) oil spill pads for clean up of motor oil,

(ii) soda ash or lime for clean up of acids,

(iii) boric acid crystals for clean up of caustic spills,

(iv) sorball, vermiculite, peat moss or other similar absorbent material for other and general purpose spill clean up.

Clean up materials contaminated with these substances should be managed as hazardous waste. All spills will be documented by the landfill manager regarding —

(i) the material spilled,

(ii) the cause of the spill,

(iii) action taken to clean up the spill, and

(iv) measures proposed to ensure similar circumstances do not arise in future to cause a spill. A copy of the spill report will be forwarded to the General Manager of the Solid Waste Management operator.

A detailed contingency plan will be prepared by the operator in the event of a major fire, spill of hazardous waste or other hazardous material or natural disaster. The contingency plan will be filed with the national disaster preparedness (or equivalent) office.

20. Complaints.—All complaints received from the public will be noted and action taken in response to each complaint will be documented.

Odour will be monitored periodically at the site boundary. Frequent levels of offensive odours will be cause for an on-site audit of operational practices to determine the cause of odour.

21. Monitoring.—The rate of landfill filling will be determined at least 2 times per year in order to revise estimates regarding the remaining life of a cell and the landfill as a whole.

During landfill operations and for a period of 10 years following the closure of the landfill groundwater quality and surface water quality should be monitored to verify the integrity of the base of the landfill to contain leachate. Groundwater and surface water should be sampled two times per year and analyzed by a competent laboratory; one sample should be obtained during the dry season and one sample should be obtained during the rainy season.

Samples of groundwater should be obtained from monitoring wells located by, and installed under the supervision of, a hydrogeologist. At least one sample should be taken from each of groundwater and adjacent surface water immediately upgradient/upstream from the area to be landfilled. At least 3 samples of groundwater should be taken from the down gradient boundary of the landfill property. At least one sample of surface water should be taken from either —

(i) within 50 downstream metres of the point at which leachate is discharged into the watercourse; or, if leachate is not discharged into the watercourse,

(ii) from the point in an adjacent watercourse generally in line with the downstream boundary of the landfill boundary. Each time sampling is undertaken a sample should be obtained from each monitoring well using a protocol to ensure the provision of untainted samples, and which protocol is accepted by the laboratory that will analyze the samples.

Samples should be analyzed for, at a minimum, the parameters identified in Table D.1. Quality criteria for each parameter in Table D.1 should be established having consideration for the use to which ground or surface water will be put and the sensitivity of the receiving environment to contaminants. Guidelines published by the World Health Organization and those of other countries that have received international recognition (e.g. those of Environment Canada) may be helpful in these regards.

Exceedances of criteria may require application of remedial measures, such as installation of a cut-off collector to intercept contaminated groundwater that escapes from the site.

Conformance with the conditions of operation cited on the License to operate the landfill should be continually monitored to ensure compliance with License conditions.

22. On-site documentation.—Copies of the following documentation should be retained on-site —

(i) the License to operate the facility,

(ii) the operating procedures for the facility,

(iii) complaint monitoring forms,

(iv) emergency response plans, procedures and monitoring forms,

(v) monitoring forms for all monitoring activities identified above,

(vi) vehicle maintenance and inspection report forms.

Table D.1

Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Parameters

Calcium	Sulphate
Sodium	Carbonate
Potassium	Bicarbonate
Iron	Alkalinity
Magnesium	Biological Oxygen Demand
Chloride	Ammonia
Nitrate	Conductivity
Nitrite	pH
Heavy metals
Every two years analysis should be undertaken for volatile organic compounds (VOC's) in groundwater.

COMPOST FACILITIES

Composting is undertaken in facilities that range in size from backyard in scale to those that compost tens of thousands of tonnes of material per year. Larger facilities have greater potential negative impacts associated with them than smaller facilities. Accordingly, four levels of compost facilities are recognised for the application of compost facility standards, with different types and levels of standards applied to each —

1. Backyard.—Backyard composting is undertaken on the land occupied by a householder or a business. If the backyard composting facility is at a place of business (e.g. a hotel), the facility will be considered a “backyard composting facility” only if the waste to be composted is yard and brush waste; if any other waste are included in the composting, the facility will be regulated as an “on-site IC&I facility”. No regulatory standards are associated with backyard composting, although public education should educate residents about good backyard composting practices.

2. On-Site IC&I composting facilities.—These facilities compost organic wastes other than, or in addition to, yard and brush wastes generated by the IC&I establishment on whose site the composting facility is located.

In addition, and by definition, on-site IC&I composting facilities receive not more than 2,000 tonnes of compostable waste per year. The verification that such facilities do not receive more than this quantity can be based on the provision of a reasonable estimate by the generator of the annual amount of organic waste they intend to compost at the facility.

3. Neighbourhood composting facilities.—Neighbourhood composting facilities are those which receive materials for composting from a neighbourhood, or from a number of small communities, or from a number of commercial generators, or some combination of these. In addition, and by definition, neighbourhood composting facilities receive not more than 2,000 tonnes of compostable waste per year. The verification that such facilities do not receive more than this quantity can be based on the average amount of organic waste generated per household in the area served by the facility, and by requiring large commercial generators to provide a reasonable estimate of the annual amount of organic waste they intend to deliver to the facility.

4. Centralized composting facilities.—These facilities receive more than 2,000 tonnes per year of organic materials for composting.

SITING STANDARDS

Backyard

Although no regulatory standards are associated with the siting of backyard composting facilities public education should stress that they should be located with sensitivity to neighbours and adjacent public areas.

On-Site IC&I Composting Facilities

On-site IC&I composting facilities should be located —

1. At least 25 metres from the nearest watercourse.

2. On land that is not within a flood plain as measured by a once in 25 year storm.

3. At least 5 metres from the nearest residence or building that is a place of work.

4. Adjacent to a road with an all-weather surface.

Neighbourhood Composting Facilities

Neighbourhood-scale composting facilities should be located —

1. At least 25 metres from the nearest watercourse.

2. On land that is not within a flood plain as measured by a once in 25 year storm.

3. At least 50 metres from the nearest residence or building that is a place of work.

4. Adjacent to a road with an all-weather surface.

5. Facilities should be secured so as to prevent entry by animals.

Centralized Composting Facilities

There are two basic types of centralized composting facility —

(i) systems that conduct the composting process utilizing open windrows, and

(ii) those that employ mechanical, enclosed technology. Mechanical, enclosed systems are capital and energy intensive and not considered to constitute appropriate technology for OECS countries. Accordingly, the standards and guidelines below relate to open-windrow systems, which may be more appropriately implemented in OECS countries.

To the extent possible, open windrow composting systems should be located —

1. On soils with a minimum depth of 3 feet and a uniform water permeability of 10-6 cm/second or less.

2. Within topography that minimizes the extent of civil works necessary to prepare the composting site.

3. On land previously used for waste disposal.

4. In rain shadows or other areas of low rainfall.

5. In areas where the prevailing winds are of low velocity and blow offshore.

6. In areas not susceptible to wind or water damage as a result of a hurricane or storm.

7. In areas that do not require the forced resettlement of individuals.

8. At least 50 metres from the nearest watercourse or salt water.

9. On land that is not within a flood plain as measured by a once in 25 year storm.

10. At least 50 metres from the nearest residence or building that is a place of work.

11. Adjacent to a road with an all-weather surface.

12. Facilities should be secured so as to prevent entry by animals.

Open windrow composting systems sited within a landfill area will be deemed to meet these siting requirements. Where such composting facilities are not located within a landfill area, suitable composting locations should be determined through the weighting of these criteria and their application according to their weighted significance. The weighting of criteria should be undertaken with public input.

DESIGN STANDARDS

Backyard Composting

No regulatory design standards apply to backyard composting. Materials for composting can be piled in a heap. Alternatively, a compost container can be employed. A suitable container would be made from building blocks or wood and would measure approximately 1 metre x 1 metre x 1 metre. A lid is optional.

The sides should, ideally, be constructed to allow the passage of air, but this is not essential if bulky materials are periodically added to the compost pile to allow aeration. On the front of the structure, a space should be left at the bottom to allow the removal of finished compost.

On-Site IC&I Composting Facilities

The size and nature of feedstock associated with on-site IC&I composting facilities, together with the proximity of these facilities to residential buildings and places of work, requires that this type of composting be conducted in an enclosed structure. The structure may be as described above for backyard composting, and several such structures may be placed in a cluster to accommodate the quantity of materials generated. Facilities should be secured so as to prevent entry by animals and unauthorized individuals.

Neighbourhood Composting Facilities

As with on-site IC&I composting, the size and nature of neighbourhood composting facilities requires application of precautions to ensure that the composting is undertaken in ways that are protective of the environment and adjacent residents. The type of container descried for backyard composting (see above) may be used, grouped as necessary to accommodate the amount of material to be composted. Alternatively, windrows (see “Operating Standards – Centralized Composting” point 2, below) may be used, in which case greater reliance will be placed on operating practices to control potential negative impacts on the environment and adjacent communities. In either case, neighbourhood composting facilities should be secured to prevent entry by animals and to educate individuals on the correct composting procedures.

Centralized Composting Facilities

The scale and nature of centralized composting facilities may result in significant potential negative impacts. Accordingly, design requirements associated with centralized composting facilities are more stringent than those associated with other types of composting. In many cases, similar design standards to those of a landfill are required. However, if the centralized composting facility is located within a landfill location, the composting facility should be deemed to have met the design standards that follow —

1. Storm water control.—Storm water control refers to the management of surface water flowing into or over a landfill site. Storm water entering a centralised composting facility can disrupt composting operations, flood the facility, carry detritus from the facility and increase leachate quantities.

Designs should ensure that drainage works are incorporated to —

(i) intercept any watercourses (permanent or seasonal) that cross the site, and

(ii) catch and divert surface water that may enter the site during or following a precipitation event whether or not such water is in a “watercourse”.

Drainage.—works should be sized to ensure that surface water will not enter the site even under the most extreme conditions under which the facility is likely to operate, which may be defined to equate to a once in 25 years storm. Drainage works carrying storm water from the site should discharge to a watercourse or the marine environment. If this is not feasible, storm water should be discharged into the natural environment in such a way that the velocity and quantity of water so discharged does not result in erosion of the land onto which the discharge takes place. A storm water retention pond should typically be included in the stormwater management system to regulate the rate of discharge of stormwater to the receiving environment, and to allow the settling of sediments and suspended solids carried by stormwater.

2. Leachate collection.—In order to protect against the uncontrolled release of leachate, the permeability throughout the top 3 feet of ground beneath the compost area should be no greater than 10-6 centimetres/second if there are receptors downgradient from the compost facility that are sensitive to any of the parameters recommended to be monitored in Table D-1. There should be no cracks or porous zones within this depth. Achievement of this standard may require the placement of natural or artificial materials.

Alternatively, a synthetic landfill liner may be installed to prevent the escape of leachate; such a liner should have flexibility to absorb the pressures of composting and should be installed according to engineering specifications recommended by the supplier and verified by a qualified engineer to preserve the integrity of the liner.

The base under a centralized composting facility should be designed with a minimum 3% stable slope. Leachate collection pipes or drains should be installed at the downhill end of the slope and should be designed to carry leachate to a retention pond. Subject to site specific recommendations of a design consultant, the leachate retention pond should be sized to accommodate leachate generation associated with the wettest one month period in 25 years and should preferably be located at the lowest point of the composting site.

3. Management of collected leachate.—Collected leachate should be recirculated through the composting material. Composting typically involves a net loss of moisture, and the re-circulation of leachate in this way can speed up the composting process, as well as provide effective treatment of leachate.

4. Litter control.—The escape of litter from a centralized composting facility can be prevented through erection of a 1.8 metre (minimum height) high perimeter fence, combined with effective operational controls (see below).

5. Site security.—In some instances, the physical features associated with the location of a centralized composting facility may result in high levels of site security; for example, a facility located in a quarry in which rock faces effectively prevent entry by unauthorized persons. Wherever physical characteristics of a composting site do not prevent entry of unauthorized persons, a 1.8 metre (minimum height) chain link fence should be erected. This fence will also be effective for control of litter, see above.

Entry to the composting facility should be controlled by a staffed gatehouse located at the entry to the facility; no other entry point to the facility should exist. A lockable gate of heavy duty construction should be used to prevent entry during times that the facility is closed. Hours of compost facility operation should be stated in clear lettering on a sign measuring at least 1 metre x 0.7 metres.

6. Access roads.—Access to the composting facility should be by all weather road designed and constructed to carry heavy-duty vehicles. Crossings of watercourses should be by culvert or by single-span structures; structures should not be built in watercourses. Watercourse crossings should be designed to withstand flood conditions (once in 25 year storms).

7. Facility Closure.—Closure plans should be developed as a component of facility design. These plans should specify the actions that will be taken to close the facility in such a way as to ensure that negative environmental and social impacts associated with the closure phase and beyond are adequately mitigated.

OPERATING STANDARDS

Backyard Composting

No regulatory design standards are associated with backyard composting. However, public education in support of backyard composting should effectively convey the following points —

1. Backyard composting is primarily a means of managing yard waste and kitchen vegetable and fruit wastes. No meat, meat products, fats or dairy products should be placed in a backyard composting system. These materials attract rodents/vermin.

2. Some materials take longer than others to compost. Very fibrous materials (e.g. coconut husks), rigid materials (e.g. egg shells, coconut shells) and wood (e.g. branches) may take a longer time to compost than other materials.

3. Materials should be piled as they are generated to a height of not more than about 1 metre.

4. Backyard compost piles should be moist for rapid composting; the speed of composting may decrease during extended dry periods.

5. If the compost pile emits strong offensive odours, this is probably caused by insufficient air reaching all parts of the compost pile. The compost pile should be aerated by turning and adding bulky material, such as sticks, and should be covered with 10 centimetres of soil.

On-Site IC&I Composting Facilities

On-site IC&I composting facilities should be required to maintain the following operational standards —

1. No meat, meat products, fats or dairy products should be placed in an onsite commercial composting system. These materials attract rodents/vermin.

2. If the compost pile emits strong offensive odours, this is probably caused by insufficient air reaching all parts of the compost pile. If offensive odours occur, the operator should immediately aerate the compost pile by turning and adding bulky material, such as sticks, and should immediately cover the pile with 10 centimetres of soil or finished compost.

Neighbourhood Composting

Neighbourhood composting facilities should be required to maintain the following operational standards —

1. No meat, meat products, fats or dairy products should be placed in a neighbourhood composting system. These materials attract rodents/vermin.

3. The composting mass should be turned approximately every week until heat is no longer generated within the composting material. Following each turning, the composting material should be covered with at least 10 cm. of soil or finished compost.

Centralised Composting

The following operating standards should be adopted at all centralized composting facilities, whether or not they are located within a landfill area —

1. Acceptable waste types.—All organic waste materials may be accepted at a centralized windrow composting facility, except that no meat, meat products, fats or dairy products should be placed in a windrow-based centralized composting system. These materials attract rodents and vermin.

2. Size of windrow.—A windrow is a linear pile of material that is triangular in cross section. Windrows for composting may be as long as is convenient. At the base, the windrow should be approximately 3.0 – 3.5 metres; the vertical distance from ground to apex in cross section should be approximately 2.5 – 3.0 metres.

3. Temperature monitoring.—As materials compost the temperature of the compost mass increases. The temperature in the interior of the compost should be monitored daily with a temperature probe; temperature should be monitored every 3 metres for the length of the windrow. Readings should be recorded for each temperature reading station. A minimum temperature of 55ºC should be achieved for 3 continuous days during the composting process.

4. Turning of compost.—The windrow should be turned after the temperature in the compost mass has reached 55ºC for 3 consecutive days. Achievement of 55ºC for 3 consecutive days is important if the application to which to which the compost will be put requires a high level of certainty that any pathogens in the compost have been killed. Immediately following the turning, the temperature of the compost will be lower than prior to the turning; however, the compost will begin to heat again. The compost should be periodically turned when the temperature monitoring shows that the temperature of the mass begins to fall. If the temperature reaches 70ºC the compost should be turned in order to lower the temperature. One week following the stabilization of the compost mass, the compost should be moved to a curing/storage location.

5. Application of cover materials.—Organic materials to be composted should be covered with at least 10 cm of soil or finished compost immediately following their placement for composting and following the turning of the compost in order to control any odour that may be associated with the compost windrow.

6. Moisture content of compost.—The organisms that are responsible for composting activity are most active when the moisture content of the compost is in the vicinity of 60%, and effort should be made to maintain this moisture level for most efficient composting.

7. Odour control.—Cover should be inspected periodically to identify gaps in the cover or other routes by which odour might escape from the composting materials. Soil or finished compost should be used to fill any gaps in the cover materials that are identified.

8. Curing/Storage.—Following temperature stabilisation, compost should be stored. During the storage period, the compost may continue to undergo a low level of biological action, termed “curing” before becoming completely stabilized.

9. Quarantine wastes.—No wastes which are “quarantine wastes” should be accepted for composting.

10. Site facilities.—All site facilities should be maintained in good repair. All signs should be maintained in good repair and should be clearly and easily legible. Sufficient space should be available between windrows to allow a front-end loader access to the windrows.

The following standards should be considered if the centralized composting facility is located outside a landfill. If the centralized composting facility is located in a landfill, the composting facility should be deemed to have met the design standards that follow —

1. Site security.—All vehicles entering the centralized composting site should be recorded and should be required to produce a valid permit for the waste that they haul, consistent with country requirements for such permits.

Any vehicle operator that produces a permit that is not valid for the vehicle that is being operated should be reported immediately to the operations manager of the national waste management entity. However, the vehicle should be permitted entry to the centralized composting site for the purpose of discharging the waste. All vehicles entering the site should be required to travel as directed by the site attendant, and should be required to deposit their waste only where and when directed by the attendant. Vehicles should be required to proceed as directed by the attendant for the purposes of recording the weight of waste in the vehicle, billing arrangements, etc.

No person should be allowed to enter the centralized composting site unless they are a duly authorized employee working or with business at the site, a person who wishes to deposit waste, or other person with the written permission of the operations manager of the waste management entity to enter the site. Any individual or group of individuals permitted entry who is not an employee at the site or in the business of depositing waste should be accompanied on-site by a site employee for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the individual while on-site. Any individual onsite without authority should be requested to leave unless they have legitimate business at the site; the assistance of the police should be requested if the individual is uncooperative.

2. Storm water management.—Temporary storm water management systems, such as ditches, should be installed to prevent the entry of storm water falling on the site to areas where waste is being actively composted. Temporary storm water management facilities should tie into the facility's stormwater retention pond. The pond should be dredged periodically, as necessary to ensure that the capacity of the pond is maintained; sediment may be used as compost cover. The banks of the pond and permanent ditches should be vegetated with plants characterised by dense root mats to prevent erosion. The point of discharge from the pond as well as all ditches should be checked periodically and after major storms and debris should be removed.

3. Leachate management.—Any valves associated with the leachate collection system should be periodically checked and maintained as necessary, together with any pumps and other movable pieces of equipment. Leachate collection piping should be flushed annually. Collected leachate should be re-circulated through the composting mass.

4. Access roads.—Access roads should be maintained in good year round repair suitable for use by heavy vehicles. Ditches should be kept free of debris.

5. Dust control.—Water should be applied to working surfaces as necessary to control dust. Stockpiles of cover material should be compacted and, if not to be used for a period of at least 6 months, should be seeded with a suitable groundcover to control dust. The access road should be kept swept so that dust is not thrown up by heavy vehicles.

6. Litter control.—All vehicles hauling wastes should be required to cover their loads. The perimeter fence will catch litter, and litter should be collected from the fence as required to maintain a cleanly site condition.

7. Noise control.—Noise at the landfill property boundary should not exceed 70 decibels for more than 5 minutes at a time during working hours; if residential neighbourhoods are located in close proximity, efforts should be made to reduce this level further. All motors should be equipped with sound muffling devices in good working order. The composting site should be operated only between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00.

8. Odour control.—If strong odour is detected at the leachate retention pond, the pond should be agitated; if odour persists, the pond should be equipped with aerators.

If strong odour is detected from the composting material, the window should be turned immediately, rebuilt and covered with at least 10 cm of soil or finished compost.

9. Vector/vermin control.—Vectors are attracted by standing water and all potential causes of standing water should be removed, except for the storm water retention pond and leachate retention pond. If either of these attract vectors they should be treated with the minimum amount of insecticide necessary to remedy the problem, but not so much as to interfere with biological function in the receiving water course or environment. Surfaces should be filled or graded to prevent the pounding of water. Materials in which water may pond should not be exposed to wet weather in such a way as they allow accumulation of water at the site.

Vermin are attracted to uncovered rotting or decaying waste and should be controlled by application of many of the procedures associated with odour control and coverage of materials while they are composting. A persistent vermin problem should be addressed by a licensed pest control officer or exterminator.

10. Bird control.—Cover materials should be promptly applied to the waste deposited at the composting site. In the event of continuing bird problems, bird scare techniques such as use of a device to issue periodic, random loud noise bursts may be used, provided such devices do not interfere with adjacent populations of wild animals and birds.

11. Worker health and safety.—Protective clothing to be worn at the site should include hearing protection by equipment operators and those working in the vicinity of heavy equipment, hard hats, gloves, safety glasses or goggles, safety vest and steel-capped safety boots. This equipment should be issued to employees and it should be a condition of employment that it is worn during working hours.

All local occupational health and safety requirements should be observed. In addition, to the extent they are not explicitly covered by such requirements, the following should be undertaken —

(i) rejection of all unsuitable materials from composting,

(ii) inspection of all loads of waste deposited for composting and separation of any suspicious wastes of unknown origin,

(iii) driving only on designated roads,

(iv) use of safety cones and signage to clearly direct traffic movements,

(v) maintenance of clear separation distance between heavy equipment and the unloading of waste at the working face of the landfill,

(vi) ensure that no loitering takes place at the composting site,

(vii) ensure that only those actively unloading waste leave their vehicle and then only for the purpose of unloading the waste.

12. Emergency Response.—The landfill operator will maintain fire-extinguishing capacity sufficient to extinguish small fires, and will activate that capacity as necessary. Larger fires will be reported by the compost facility operator to the Fire Department, if one exists, immediately. A detailed contingency plan will be prepared by the operator in the event of a major fire or natural disaster; the contingency plan will be filed with the national disaster preparedness (or equivalent) office.

13. Complaints and monitoring.—All complaints received from the public will be noted and action taken in response to each complaint will be documented.

Odour will be monitored periodically at the site boundary. Frequent levels of offensive odours will be cause for an on-site audit of operational practices to determine the cause of odour.

During operations groundwater quality and surface water quality should be monitored to verify the integrity of the base of the facility to contain leachate. Groundwater and surface water should be sampled two times per year and analyzed by a competent laboratory; one sample should be obtained during the dry season and one sample should be obtained during the rainy season.

At least 3 samples of groundwater should be taken from the down gradient boundary of the property. At least one sample of surface water should be taken from either —

(i) within 50 downstream metres of the point at which leachate is discharged into the watercourse; or, if leachate is not discharged into the watercourse,

(ii) from the point in an adjacent watercourse generally in line with the downstream boundary of the landfill boundary. Each time sampling is undertaken a sample should be obtained from each monitoring well using a protocol to ensure the provision of untainted samples, and which protocol is accepted by the laboratory that will analyze the samples.

Exceedances of criteria may require application of remedial measures, such as installation of a cut-off collector to intercept contaminated groundwater that escapes from the site.

Conformance with the conditions of operation cited on the License to operate the centralized composting facility should be continually monitored to ensure compliance with License conditions.

14. On-site documentation.—Copies of the following documentation should be retained on-site —

(i) the License to operate the facility,

(ii) the operating procedures for the facility,

(iii) complaint monitoring forms,

(iv) emergency response plans, procedures and monitoring forms,

(v) monitoring forms for all monitoring activities identified above,

(vi) vehicle maintenance and inspection report forms.

RECYCLABLE MATERIALS PROCESSING FACILITIES

Processing facilities for recyclable materials are industrial facilities whose impacts are similar to light manufacturing plants. Generally, they should be sited, designed and operated in a similar manner to light industrial plants.

Siting

Processing facilities for recyclable materials should be located at either a landfill site or in an industrial area; locations accessible by cargo vessel may be preferred if the materials to be processed are to be sold to overseas markets. Siting of facilities for processing recyclable materials outside a landfill site area should be undertaken consistent with local procedures for siting of industrial facilities.

Design

If the recyclable materials processing facility is located at a landfill site area, several of the design considerations identified below will have been addressed in the design of the landfill site area. In the event that a recyclable materials processing facility is located outside a landfill area, each of the following design considerations will need to be addressed.

1. General design considerations.—Recyclable materials processing facilities should be housed in weatherproof and hurricane-proof buildings with full access to electrical services and water supply compatible with the operations of the facility. The floor should be constructed of concrete slab. Specific criteria for general building requirements should be developed with consideration of local construction requirements for manufacturing facilities.

2. Performance standards.—Recyclable materials processing facilities should process recyclable materials to the specifications demanded by the end user of the materials. Specifications in these regards typically relate to the level of sorting of materials that is necessary, the density of materials and the format of delivery (e.g. bale or container size) to the end user.

3. Storage of recyclable materials.—Storage areas should be designed appropriate for the materials to be processed. Storage areas will be required for materials prior to processing and for materials awaiting transportation to an end-user. Operational considerations impacting on design in these regards are discussed under “Operations” below.

4. Processing of recyclable materials.—Sufficient space should be designed into the recyclable materials processing facility to allow for the ready access and movement of light vehicles (e.g. forklift trucks) to move materials around, as necessary for the processing and storage of the materials. All processing equipment should be equipped with emergency stop mechanisms.

5. Storm water management.—Storm water should be drained from the site of the recyclable materials processing facilities, and should not be permitted entry into the structures housing these facilities. Storm water should be discharged into the drainage system serving the area in which the facilities are located.

6. Access roads. Access.—to the facilities should be by all weather road designed and constructed to carry heavy-duty vehicles. Crossings of watercourses should be by culvert or by single-span structures; structures should not be built in watercourses. Watercourse crossings should be designed to withstand flood conditions (once in 25 year storms).

7. Site security.—Access to the site in which recyclable processing facilities are located should be controlled through a lockable gate installed in a chain link perimeter fence of a minimum height of 1.8 metres.

Operations

1. Acceptable waste types.—Only materials included in a recycling program should be accepted at a processing facility for recyclable materials.

2. Site security.—All vehicles arriving at a facility for processing recyclable materials should be recorded and should be required to produce a valid permit for the waste that they haul, consistent with country requirements for such permits. Any vehicle operator that produces a permit that is not valid for the vehicle that is being operated should be reported immediately to the senior operational officer of the national waste management entity. However, the vehicle should be permitted entry for the purpose of discharging the materials they are transporting provided that they are acceptable for recycling.

No person should be allowed to enter a facility for processing recyclable materials unless they are a duly-authorized employee working, or with business at the facility, or other person with the written permission of the senior operational officer of the waste management entity to enter the site.

Any individual permitted entry who is not an employee at the facility or in the business of depositing materials should be accompanied on-site by a site employee for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the individual while on-site. Any individual on-site without authority should be requested to leave unless they have legitimate business at the site; the assistance of the police should be requested if the individual is uncooperative.

3. Storm water management.—Storm water management systems, such as ditches, should be installed to prevent the entry of storm water falling on the site to areas where materials are being actively managed. Storm water should be discharged into drainage systems serving the general area in which the facility is located.

4. Access roads.—Access roads to a recyclable materials processing facility should be maintained in good repair suitable for year round use by heavy vehicles. Ditches should be kept free of debris.

5. Processing facilities.—Processing of recyclable materials should be undertaken in a weatherproof structure. All site structures should be maintained in good repair. All signs should be maintained in good repair and should be clearly and easily legible.

6. Equipment.—Site equipment should be maintained in a state of good working order. Maintenance schedules should be adhered to, no unauthorized use – on-site or off-site – of equipment should be entertained, and necessary repairs should be promptly undertaken by qualified staff. Equipment should be securely stored in a weatherproof building.

7. Dust control.—Water should be applied as necessary to control dust on unpaved outside areas. Care should be taken to ensure that water applied in this manner does not enter containers of materials either awaiting or following processing. The access road should be kept swept so that dust is not thrown up by heavy vehicles.

8. Litter control.—All vehicles hauling materials to a recyclable materials processing facility should be required to cover their loads. The perimeter fence will catch litter that escapes within the recyclable materials processing facility compound. Litter should be removed from the fence daily or as needed to maintain sanitary conditions at the site. After significant wind events, areas immediately beyond the facility should be checked to determine if litter has escaped and, if so, the litter should be collected and recycled or disposed of, as appropriate.

9. Noise control.—Noise at the facility property boundary should not exceed 70 decibels for more than 5 minutes at a time during the working hours of the facility; if residential neighbourhoods are located in close proximity, efforts should be made to reduce this level further. All motors should be equipped with sound muffling devices in good working order. The facility should normally be operated only between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00.

10. Odour control.—The nature of recyclable materials processing facilities is such that strong objectionable odours from the facility should not occur. If objectionable odours are detected they will be caused by organic materials arriving at the facility in association with the recyclable materials.

The following actions should be required in order to reduce objectionable odours —

(i) the quality of materials arriving at the facility should be reviewed and action taken to reduce the amount of organic contaminants arriving at the facility,

(ii) the schedule for emptying containers of solid waste generated at the facility should be reviewed and increased as necessary to ensure that odours are not created from the lengthy storage of solid wastes,

(iii) solid waste containers should be cleaned as necessary to remove objectionable odours from wastes stuck to the sides of the containers, and

(iv) lids for containers should be checked to ensure they are tight-fitting, and replaced as necessary.

11. Wastewater.—Wastewater from facility operations should be discharged in accordance with local requirements. Facility feed stocks and operations should be reviewed; sediment traps and grates for removal of solid materials (e.g. paper, plastic etc) from wastewater should be required and should be installed as necessary with respect to the nature of facility operations.

12. Management of reject materials.—Recyclable materials entering recyclable materials processing facilities will typically contain a small percentage of non-recyclable materials that require management as solid waste in a landfill site. The materials will be sorted from recyclable materials as a function of the processing of the recyclable materials. If the quantity of non-recyclable contaminant materials comprises more than 5 percent by weight of all materials entering the facility, steps should be taken to improve the recyclable materials collection system in order to reduce the quantity of non-recyclable contaminants.

Non-recyclable materials should be placed in solid waste containers meeting regulatory standards and should be hauled by a licensed waste hauler to a landfill for proper disposal.

13. Materials storage.—Materials awaiting processing should be processed within one day of delivery to the facility. These materials should be stored so as to prevent —

(i) blowing by wind,

(ii) the entry of water into the stored materials if this will impact ability to process the materials, and

(iii) the escape of odour. Generally, materials should be stored either inside or outside in containers with tight-fitting lids, wraps or tarpaulin covers. Some materials (e.g. glass) may normally be stored outside without cover since they are heavy enough not to blow away and are not impacted by rain.

Materials that have been processed should be stored in ways compatible with their sale and transportation to end-use markets. Generally, paper, plastic and metal cans should be baled and glass should be stored in a rigid container. Paper materials, in particular, should generally be stored out of the rain.

14. Vector/vermin control.—Vectors are attracted by standing water and all potential causes of standing water should be removed. Surfaces should be filled or graded to prevent the ponding of water. Materials in which water may pond should not be exposed to wet weather in such a way as to allow accumulation of water at the site.

Vermin are attracted to rotting or decaying waste and should be controlled by application of many of the procedures associated with odour control. A persistent vermin problem should be addressed by a licensed pest control officer or exterminator.

15. Worker health and safety.—Protective clothing to be worn at the facility should include hearing protection by equipment operators and those working in the vicinity of heavy equipment, hard hats, gloves, safety glasses or goggles, steel-capped safety boots, and dust mask. This equipment should be issued to employees and it should be a condition of employment that it is worn during working hours.

All local occupational health and safety requirements should be observed.

In addition, to the extent they are not explicitly covered by such requirements, the following should be undertaken —

(i) rejection of all loads which, upon visual inspection, appear to contain non-recyclable materials at levels beyond those specified by the facility,

(ii) inspection of all loads of materials tipped at the facility and separation of any suspicious wastes of unknown origin,

(iii) ensure that no loitering takes place at the working face,

(iv) ensure that only those actively unloading waste leave their vehicle and then only for the purpose of unloading the waste.

Equipment should be inspected for visible signs of wear and tear before use each day. If there is evidence of wear and tear that may compromise the safety of the equipment, the problems should be documented, reported and the equipment repaired before use. Mobile equipment should travel slowly, not normally exceeding 5 mph. Loader buckets should be carried low and all heavy equipment should be fitted with a back-up warning signal and strobe light for automatic use when proceeding in reverse. No equipment should be used that has not been maintained according to its maintenance schedule. Clear separation of at least 5 yards should be maintained between vehicles depositing materials at the facility and mobile facility equipment.

16. Emergency Response.—The operator will maintain fire-extinguishing capacity sufficient to extinguish small fires, and will activate that capacity as necessary. Larger fires will be reported by the facility operator to the Fire Department, if one exists, immediately. A detailed contingency plan will be prepared by the operator in the event of a major fire or natural disaster; the contingency plan will be filed with the National Emergency Management (or equivalent) Office.

Spills of flammable, hazardous or environmentally-contaminating materials will immediately be contained. All spills will be documented by the facility manager regarding —

(i) the material spilled,

(ii) the cause of the spill,

(iii) action taken to clean up the spill, and

(iv) measures proposed to ensure similar circumstances do not arise in future to cause a spill.

17. Complaints and monitoring.—All complaints received from the public will be noted and action taken in response to each complaint will be documented. Conformance with the conditions of operation cited on the License to operate the landfill should be continually monitored to ensure compliance with License conditions.

18. On-site documentation.—Copies of the following documentation should be retained on-site —

(i) the License to operate the facility,

(ii) the operating procedures for the facility,

(iii) complaint monitoring forms,

(iv) emergency response plans, procedures and monitoring forms,

(v) monitoring forms for all monitoring activities identified above,

(vi) vehicle maintenance and inspection report forms.

Biomedical waste biomedical waste treatment facilities are commonly located on the property of a hospital.

Design Standards

1. General Design Considerations.—Biomedical waste treatment facilities should be housed in weatherproof and hurricane-proof buildings with full access to electrical and water services compatible with the requirements of the biomedical waste treatment facilities. The floor should be constructed of concrete slab. Specific criteria for general building requirements should be developed with consideration of local construction requirements for manufacturing facilities.

2. Performance Standards.—The design of a biomedical waste treatment facilities should ensure that risks to human health and the environment are minimised. The effective operation of a biomedical waste treatment facilities is a function of —

1. The operating temperature of the biomedical waste treatment facilities.

2. The residence time of the waste and waste gases in the biomedical waste treatment facilities combustion chamber(s).

3. The oxygen level in the equipment

4. The combustion control system.

5. Stack design, including pollution control equipment.

Different system designs can result in varying criteria associated with each of these parameters, but each design may be environmentally acceptable. All proponents should be required to supply information on these parameters to the Ministry of Health, and should also be required to provide full technical details on these matters regarding at least one facility similar in design and throughput to the one proposed. This information should be accompanied by the name and contact coordinates for the regulatory authority in which the referenced equipment are operational. All biomedical waste treatment facilities should be required to meet the performance specification identified in Table D.2. The proponent should be required to demonstrate that a proposed biomedical waste treatment facilities will meet these performance criteria.

3. Storage of waste.—Storage areas should be included in the design of biomedical waste incineration facilities. Storage areas should be equipped with locks and should be clearly labelled with the internationally-recognized biohazard symbol. Designs should provide for biomedical wastes to be stored at 4ºC or colder. Entrance to the storage room should be designed to provide easy passage into and out of the storage room for the equipment that will be used to transport wastes within the biomedical waste treatment facilities building. It should not be necessary to travel outside in transporting the wastes from the storage room to the medical waste treatment equipment.

4. Storm water management.—Storm water should be drained from the site of the biomedical waste equipment, and should not be permitted entry into the structures housing the equipment. Storm water should be discharged into the drainage system serving the area in which the equipment is located

5. Access roads.—Access to the biomedical waste biomedical waste treatment facilities should be by all weather road designed and constructed to carry heavy-duty vehicles. Crossings of watercourses should be by culvert or by single-span structures; structures should not be built in watercourses. Watercourse crossings should be designed to withstand flood conditions (once in 10 year storms).

6. Facility closure.—Closure plans should be developed as a component of facility design. These plans should specify the actions that will be taken to close the facility in such a way as to ensure that negative environmental and social impacts associated with the closure phase and beyond are adequately mitigated.

Operating Standards

1. Acceptable waste types.—Only wastes for which a medical waste treatment equipment is designed should be accepted at the treatment site. All haulers bringing wastes to the site should be registered with the equipment operator, as should all generators of biomedical waste to be treated at the site. No waste should be accepted at the biomedical waste treatment facilities unless —

(i) the hauler of the waste is registered with the biomedical waste treatment facilities operator and has a valid permit for hauling biomedical wastes,

(ii) the source of waste generator is registered with the biomedical waste treatment facilities operator, and

(iii) the waste is packaged as required by the biomedical waste transportation guidelines contained in this document or as those guidelines are amended by the regulatory authority.

In the event that either (i) or (ii) are contravened, the waste should be accepted only following verification that the waste is biomedical in nature.

In the event (iii) is contravened, the driver should be required to return the waste to the generator to package the materials correctly. In all cases, contravention of these requirements should be reported to the Ministry of Health.

2. Site security.—No person should be allowed to enter the medical waste treatment building unless they are a duly authorized employee working or with business at the biomedical waste treatment facilities, a person who wishes to deposit waste, or other person with the written permission of the senior operational officer of the biomedical waste treatment facilities to enter the site. Any individual permitted entry who is not an employee at the site or in the business of depositing waste should by accompanied onsite by a site employee for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the individual while on-site. Any individual on-site without authority should be requested to leave unless they have legitimate business at the site; the assistance of the police should be requested if the individual is uncooperative.

3. Access roads.—Access roads should be maintained in good year round repair suitable for use by heavy vehicles. Ditches should be kept free of debris.

4. Site facilities.—All site structures should be maintained in good repair. All signs should be maintained in good repair and should be clearly and easily legible.

5. Equipment.—Site equipment should be maintained in a state of good working order. Maintenance schedules should be adhered to, no unauthorized use – on-site or off-site – of equipment should be entertained, and necessary repairs should be promptly undertaken by qualified staff. Equipment should be securely stored in a weatherproof building.

6. Storage and handling of wastes.—All biomedical wastes should be incinerated at the first opportunity. The maximum period of storage of biomedical waste (time in storage at point of generation plus time in transportation plus time in storage point of disposal) should not exceed 4 days. All storage must occur in a specially designated storage room or refrigerator at 4ºC or cooler and wastes must be contained in containers meeting the requirements of these guidelines. A tracking system should be introduced such that all containers of waste entering the biomedical waste treatment facilities facility are recorded and tagged so as to identify the day by which the waste must be incinerated; a management system for handling the wastes should be developed that ensures that all wastes are incinerated within 4 days from the date of generation. At no point should wastes be exposed to the air. The storage room should remain locked unless wastes are being brought into or out of the room.

In the event of an emergency in which the incineration of wastes within 4 days is not possible or if it is not possible to maintain a maximum temperature of 4ºC in the storage room, biomedical wastes should be hauled to a landfill and should be immediately deep-buried at a depth of at least 6 feet.

7. Odour, Vector and Vermin Control.—The method of transporting and storing biomedical wastes and the priority on immediate disposal of wastes should ensure that no odour; vector or vermin problems arise. In the event of odour problems, the source and cause of the odour should be determined immediately and steps should be taken to correct the situation. In the event of vector or vermin problems, the cause of the problems should be immediately identified and corrected and a pest control expert should be retained to rid the facility of vectors and/or vermin.

8. Worker health and safety.—Protective clothing to be worn at the site should include hearing protection in the vicinity of the biomedical waste treatment facilities, hard hats, gloves, safety glasses or goggles and steel-capped safety boots. This equipment should be issued to employees and it should be a condition of employment that it is worn during working hours.

All local occupational health and safety requirements should be observed.

In addition, to the extent they are not explicitly covered by such requirements, the following should be undertaken —

(i) rejection of all prohibited wastes from disposal,

(ii) visual inspection of all loads of waste on an “as-delivered” basis and separation of any suspicious wastes of unknown origin,

(iii) use of safety cones and signage to clearly direct traffic movements,

(iv) ensure that no loitering takes place at following delivery of waste,

(v) ensure that only those actively unloading waste leave their vehicle and then only for the purpose of unloading the waste.

Equipment should be inspected for visible signs of wear and tear according to a schedule provided by the supplier. If there is evidence of wear and tear that may compromise the safety of the equipment, the problems should be documented, reported and the equipment repaired before use. Mobile equipment should travel slowly, not normally exceeding 5 mph. All mobile equipment should be fitted with a back-up warning signal and strobe light for automatic use when proceeding in reverse. No equipment should be used that has not been maintained according to its maintenance schedule.

9. Emergency Response.—The operator will maintain fire-extinguishing capacity sufficient to extinguish small fires, and will activate that capacity as necessary. A detailed contingency plan will be prepared by the operator in the event of —

(i) a major fire,

(ii) failure to maintain a maximum temperature of 4ºC in the storage room,

(iii) failure to incinerate biomedical waste within 4 days of generation of the waste,

(iv) failure of the biomedical waste treatment facilities to perform to its operational or environmental specifications, and

(v) a natural disaster. The contingency plan will be filed with the Ministry of Health and the national disaster preparedness (or equivalent) office.

(i) oil spill pads for clean up of motor oil,

(ii) soda ash or lime for clean up of acids,

(iii) boric acid crystals for clean up of caustic spills,

(iv) sorball, vermiculite, peat moss or other similar absorbent material for other and general purpose spill clean up. Clean up materials contaminated with these substances should be managed as hazardous waste.

All spills will be documented by the landfill manager regarding —

(i) the material spilled,

(ii) the cause of the spill,

(iii) action taken to clean up the spill, and

(iv) measures proposed to ensure similar circumstances do not arise in future to cause a spill. A copy of the spill report will be forwarded to the senior operating officer of the waste management operator.

10. Complaints and monitoring.—All complaints received from the public will be noted and action taken in response to each complaint will be documented.

Conformance with the conditions of operation cited on the License to operate the landfill should be continually monitored to ensure compliance with License conditions. Deviations from the environmental performance standards established for the facility, particularly those addressing atmospheric pollutants, will be investigated promptly and appropriate action taken to correct the deviations.

11. On-site documentation.—Copies of the following documentation should be retained on-site —

(i) the License to operate the facility,

(ii) the operating procedures for the facility,

(iii) complaint monitoring forms,

(iv) emergency response plans, procedures and monitoring forms,

(v) monitoring forms for all monitoring activities identified above,

(vi) vehicle maintenance and inspection report forms.

STEAM STERILIZATION (AUTOCLAVING) FACILITIES

Steam sterilization (or autoclaving) of bio-hazardous waste utilizes saturated steam within a pressure vessel at temperatures sufficient to kill infectious agents present in the waste. Disinfection of the waste occurs primarily from steam penetration and steam generation within the water based organisms. The following siting, design and operating standards are developed for steam sterilization (autoclaving) of bio-hazardous waste. These standards are not necessarily appropriate for steam sterilization units intended to treat municipal non-hazardous refuse or industrial hazardous wastes of a non-biomedical nature; separate and additional standards may be necessary to treat these types of waste.

Siting Standards

Steam sterilization (autoclave) facilities may be sited in accordance with practices for other industrial buildings. The siting of a steam sterilization facility in reasonable proximity to a landfill site will result in minimising costs associated with the transport of treated waste from the facility to the landfill. It can however be located on the property of a hospital.

Design Standards

1. General Design Considerations.—The facility should house a treatment centre; an area for unloading/loading of waste receptacles from vehicles; a storage area for waste receptacles prior to processing; an area for the washing of emptied receptacles. The steam sterilization unit (autoclave unit) should be housed in weather-proof, hurricane-proof and earthquakeproof buildings with full access to electrical and water services compatible with the requirements of the steam sterilizer (autoclave). The floor should be constructed of concrete slab to withstand equipment, containers and vehicles. The facility should be designed such that temperature is minimized by natural ventilation with screening to exclude insects. Design and construction should also minimize routine maintenance costs. The steam sterilization facility should comply with all relevant legislation and specific criteria for general building requirements and should be developed with consideration of local construction requirements for manufacturing facilities.

2. Performance Standards.—The design of a steam sterilization unit (autoclave unit) should ensure that risks to human health and the environment are minimised. The plant should allow for minimal handling of waste during collection, treatment, and disposal. Because treatment of bio-hazardous waste is time and temperature dependent, the steam sterilization (autoclave) unit should operate at a temperature no less than 121 degrees and a pressure of 15 pounds per square inch (psi) for a minimum residence time of 30 minutes. Treatment should achieve a 6-log kill of viable bacterial spores (Bacillus stearothermophilus or Bacillus subtilis). A shredding system 249 prior to treatment, or during the sterilization process should be established to achieve 6 log kill for some dense waste streams (e.g anatomical). The sterilization process should reduce the original volume of the waste to a minimum of 80%. Waste should not be generally recognisable and should be suitable for transfer as solid waste for final landfill disposal. A shredding/maceration process during or after treatment would achieve this. The steam sterilization system should employ an automated loading system and computerised controls for time, temperature, and pressure. A printout should be available for each and every cycle undertaken and should include the following data as a minimum: date and time, duration of cycle, temperature/pressure achieved. Facilities for quality control testing by means of spore strips or equivalent methods and use of parametric monitoring should be available. A standard spare part inventory should be available.

3. Storage of waste.—Storage areas should be included in the design of steam sterilization facilities. Storage areas should be equipped with locks and should be clearly labelled with the internationally-recognized biohazard symbol. Designs should provide for biomedical wastes to be stored at 4ºC or colder. Entrance to the storage room should be designed to provide easy passage into and out of the storage room for the equipment that will be used to transport wastes within the steam sterilization facility. It should not be necessary to travel outside in transporting the wastes from the storage room to the steam sterilization unit.

4. Storm water management.—Storm water should be drained from the site of the steam sterilization facility, and should not be permitted entry into the structures housing the steam sterilization unit. Storm water should be discharged into the drainage system serving the area in which the steam sterilization unit is located.

5. Access roads.—Access to the steam sterilization facility should be by all weather road designed and constructed to carry heavy-duty vehicles. Crossings of watercourses should be by culvert or by single-span structures; structures should not be built in watercourses. Watercourse crossings should be designed to withstand flood conditions (once in 10 year storms).

OPERATING STANDARDS

1. Acceptable waste types.—Only wastes for which a steam sterilization unit is designed should be accepted at the steam sterilization facility. All haulers bringing wastes to the steam sterilization facility, as well as generators of biomedical waste to be treated at the site should be registered with the operator of the unit. No waste should be accepted at the steam sterilization facility unless —

(i) the hauler of the waste is registered with the operator of the facility and has a valid permit for hauling biomedical wastes,

(ii) the source of waste generator is registered with the operator of the facility, and

(iii) the waste is packaged as required by the biomedical waste transportation guidelines contained in this document or as those guidelines are amended by the regulatory authority.

In the event that either (i) or (ii) are contravened, the waste should be accepted only following verification that the waste is biomedical in nature.

2. Site security.—No person should be allowed to enter the steam sterilization building unless they are a duly authorized employee working or with business at the facility, a person who wishes to deposit waste, or other person with the written permission of the senior operational officer of the facility to enter the site. Any individual permitted entry who is not an employee at the site or in the business of depositing waste should be accompanied on site by a site employee for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the individual while on site. Any individual on site without authority should be requested to leave unless they have legitimate business at the site. The assistance of the police should be requested if the individual is uncooperative.

3. Access roads.—Access roads should be maintained in good condition year round and be suitable for use by heavy vehicles. Ditches should be kept free of debris.

4. Site facilities.—All site structures should be maintained in good repair. All signs should be maintained in good repair and should be clearly and easily legible.

6. Storage and handling of wastes.—All biomedical wastes should be treated at the first opportunity. The maximum period of storage of biomedical waste (time in storage at point of generation plus time in transportation plus time in storage point of disposal) should not exceed 4 days. All storage must occur in a specially designated storage room or refrigerator at 4ºC or cooler and wastes must be contained in containers meeting the requirements of these guidelines. A tracking system should be introduced such that all containers of waste entering the steam sterilization (autoclave) facility are recorded and tagged so as to identify the day by which the waste must be treated; a management system for handling the wastes should be developed that ensures that all wastes are autoclaved within 4 days from the date of generation. At no point should wastes be exposed to the air. The storage room should remain locked unless wastes are being brought into or out of the room.

In the event of an emergency in which the autoclave of wastes within 4 days is not possible or if it is not possible to maintain a maximum temperature of 4ºC in the storage room, biomedical wastes should be hauled to a landfill and should be immediately deep-buried at a depth of at least 6 feet.

All local occupational health and safety requirements should be observed.

In addition, to the extent they are not explicitly covered by such requirements, the following should be undertaken —

(i) rejection of all prohibited wastes from disposal,

(ii) visual inspection of all loads of waste on an “as-delivered” basis and separation of any suspicious wastes of unknown origin,

(iii) use of safety cones and signage to clearly direct traffic movements,

(iv) ensure that no loitering takes place at following delivery of waste,

(v) ensure that only those actively unloading waste leave their vehicle and then only for the purpose of unloading the waste.

(i) a major fire,

(ii) failure to maintain a maximum temperature of 4ºC in the storage room,

(iii) failure to treat biomedical waste within 4 days of generation of the waste,

(iv) failure of the steam sterilization/autoclave unit to perform to its operational or environmental specifications, and

(v) a natural disaster. The contingency plan will be filed with the Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Management (or equivalent) Office.

All spills will be documented by the manager of the facility regarding —

(i) the material spilled,

(ii) the cause of the spill,

(iii) action taken to clean up the spill, and

(iv) measures proposed to ensure similar circumstances do not arise in future to cause a spill. A copy of the spill report should be forwarded to the senior General Manager of the Solid Waste Management Authority.

10. Complaints and monitoring.—All complaints received from the public will be noted and action taken in response to each complaint will be documented.

11. On-site documentation.—Copies of the following documentation should be retained on-site —

(i) the License to operate the facility,

(ii) the operating procedures for the facility,

(iii) complaint monitoring forms,

(iv) emergency response plans, procedures and monitoring forms,

(v) monitoring forms for all monitoring activities identified above,

(vi) vehicle maintenance and inspection report forms.

12. The facility should comply with either or European Union (EU), World Health Organisation (WHO)/United States (US) recommendations and directives for safe Hazardous Health-Care Waste (HHCW) collection and disposal. The facility should carry Conformite Europeenne (CE) approval and/or Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) registration for applicable components and fully comply with the provisions of Health Technical Memorandum 2075 of the United Kingdom and/or the reports of the State and territorial Association for Alternative Treatment Technologies (STAATT) of the US.

INCINERATION FACILITIES

Incineration is the process by which waste materials are oxidized (or combusted) at high temperatures in the present of oxygen. The design of a waste incinerator depends on the type of waste which is to be treated by this facility. The waste incinerator requires sufficient residence time to reduce the harmful potential of the waste being treated and to convert combustible materials into noncombustible residue or ash.

Siting Standards

The principle potential negative environmental impacts associated with waste incinerators are —

(i) human health impacts associated with elevated levels of stack emissions, and

(ii) human health and environmental impacts associated with inadequate management of incinerator ash.

Waste incinerators may be sited in accordance with practices for other industrial buildings, except that in addition to criteria associated with other industrial facilities waste incinerators should be located in areas with good air circulation.

Although waste incinerators should be operated under strict operating and emission control criteria, the potential impacts of a waste incinerator under unanticipated upset conditions will be minimised to the extent that general air circulation assists in dissipating contaminants.

Incinerator ash should be buried in a landfill site. The siting of waste incinerators in reasonable proximity to a landfill site will result in minimising costs associated with the transport of ash from the incinerator to the landfill.

Design Standards

1. General Design Considerations.—Waste incinerators should be housed in weatherproof and hurricane-proof buildings with full access to electrical and water services compatible with the requirements of the incinerator. The floor should be constructed of concrete slab. Specific criteria for general building requirements should be developed with consideration of local construction requirements for manufacturing facilities.

2. Operational Requirements.—The design of a waste incinerator should ensure that risks to human health and the environment are minimised. The effective operation of a waste incinerator is a function of —

1. The operating temperature of the incinerator.

2. The residence time of the waste and waste gases in the incinerator combustion chamber(s).

3. The oxygen level in the incinerator.

4. The combustion control system.

5. Stack design, including pollution control equipment.

Different system designs can result in varying criteria associated with each of these parameters, but each design may be environmentally acceptable. All proponents should be required to supply the following information to the Ministry of Physical Development, Environment and Housing and should also be required to provide full technical details on these matters regarding at least one facility similar in design and throughput to the one proposed. This information should be accompanied by the name and contact coordinates for the regulatory authority in which the referenced incinerators are operational.

The persons requiring to construct or install an incinerator or thermal treatment facility, shall submit the following to the Ministry of Physical Development, Environment and Housing: a detailed engineering description of the incinerator or thermal treatment facility including the following information —

(i) manufacturer's name and model number (if available),

(ii) type of incinerator or thermal treatment facility,

(iii) internal dimension of the incinerator, or thermal treatment facility including the cross sectional area of the process chamber,

(iv) description of any auxiliary fuel system including fuel type and feed rate,

(v) capacity of air supply and exhaust systems,

(vi) description of the automatic waste feed cutoff system or systems,

(vii) any stack gas monitoring and pollution control equipment,

(viii) nozzle and burner design if the thermal treatment facility is an incinerator,

(ix) construction materials,

(x) location and description of temperature, pressure and flow sensing and control devices, a prediction of the maximum ambient ground level concentration of emissions from the facility by means of an approved atmospheric dispersion model.

(2) Before beginning operation of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility, the owner shall —

(a) conduct a demonstration trial in an approved manner to demonstrate the effectiveness of the facility to treat or destroy special waste, and shall conduct the trial for a sufficient time under normal operating conditions to obtain —
1. (i) a qualitative and quantitative description of the physical, chemical and biological properties of —
  1. (A) the special waste to be incinerated or thermally treated including all principal organic hazardous constituents (POHCs),
  1. (B) any air emissions including all POHCs, products of incomplete combustion (PICs) and parameters listed in Schedule 2,
  1. (C) any liquid effluent discharges including all POHCs, PICs and parameters listed in Schedule 1.2, and
  1. (D) any solid residues including all POHCs, PICs and trace metals listed in Schedule 2;
1. (ii) a determination of the destruction and removal efficiency (DRE), using —

Equation 1:

where =

W_in =	Mass feed rate of one POHC in the waste feed into the incinerator or thermal treatment facility,
W_out =	Mass emission rate of the same POHC present in the exhaust emissions,

(iii) a determination of the combustion efficiency (CE), using Equation 2:

where CO2 =	Concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaust emissions,
CO =	Concentration of carbon monoxide in the exhaust emissions,

(iv)     a determination of operating conditions including but not limited to —

(A)     the temperature in the combustion zone or the zone of active thermal treatment,

(B)     the residence time of gases in the combustion zone or the zone of active thermal treatment, and

(C)     the concentration of excess oxygen in the exhaust emissions whereby the DRE in Equation 1 was determined, and

(v)     a determination of specific —

(A)     meteorological conditions, and

(B)     ambient concentrations of POHCs, PICs and other contaminants as approved, and

(b) submit a report with the information described in paragraph (a) to a manager, the district director or the director.

(3) The requirement in subsection (2)(a)(iii) does not apply to thermal treatment facilities which generate CO2 from sources other than the combustion process.

(4) The owner of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall —

(a) provide an alarm system and an automatic cutoff system to stop the special waste feed to the facility when operating conditions specified in the permit are not met;

(b) test the automatic cutoff system weekly; and

(c) report any malfunction of the automatic cutoff system to the district director or the director within 24 hours after it occurs.

(5) The owner of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall inspect the facility and all associated equipment such as pumps, valves, conveyors, pipes, etc. daily for any leaks, spills, fugitive emissions and signs of tampering or malfunction.

(6) Any leaks, spills or fugitive emissions from any incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall be controlled by keeping the works sealed or by maintaining the internal pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure.

(7) The owner of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall continuously measure and record for inspection by an Authorized Officer under this Act —

(a) the temperature in the combustion zone or the zone of active thermal treatment,

(b) the waste feed rate,

(c) the gas flow rate at the exit from the combustion zone or the zone of active thermal treatment, and

(d) carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations in the exhaust gas.

(8) The owner of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall monitor any process emissions for approved parameters at approved intervals.

(9) A report of the emissions monitoring including methods and results shall be submitted to the Minister of Environment within 60 days after completion of the emissions monitoring referred to in subsection (8).

(10) The owner of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall monitor the ambient air quality and meteorological conditions using approved methods.

(11) A report of the ambient air quality monitoring referred to subsection (10) shall be submitted to the Minister of Environment on an annual basis.

Performance Standards

(1) The owner of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall ensure that during operation —

(a) the DRE (Equation 1) of the facility is equal to or greater than that specified in Table 1 —

TABLE 1

Parameter	DRE Standards
Principal Organic Hazardous Constituents (POHCs)	99.99%
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	99.9999%
Polychlorinated dibenzofurans	99.9999%
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins	99.9999%

(b) the operating conditions are maintained at levels shown by the demonstration trial referred to in operational requirements to be necessary to meet the DRE criteria in Table 1,

(c) the CE (Equation 2) of an incinerator is equal to or greater than 99.9%,

(d) the exhaust emissions meet the emission standards as specified in Schedule 8, and

(e) any discharge of liquid effluent to the environment or to any system of waste disposal operated by a municipality or other public authority which results from the operation of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility meets the effluent standards prescribed in Schedule 9.

(2) The owner of an incinerator or thermal treatment facility shall not allow solid residue to be discharged from it unless the owner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Minister of Physical Development, Environment and Housing in accordance with test protocols or methods approved by the Director of Environment that the residue no longer poses a hazard to human health or to the environment and that the residue is suitable for —

(i) disposal to a landfill authorized by a permit,

(ii) some other purpose under an approved management option.

(3) Where an owner has demonstrated to the Minister in accordance with subsection (2) that a residue no longer poses a hazard to human health or to the environment, the Minister may, authorize disposal of the residue to a landfill.

3. Storage of waste.—Storage areas should be included in the design of waste incineration facilities. Storage areas should be equipped with locks andshould be clearly labelled with the internationally-recognized hazard symbols. Entrance to the storage room should be designed to provide easy passage into and out of the storage room for the equipment that will be used to transport wastes within the incinerator building. It should not be necessary to travel outside in transporting the wastes from the storage room to the incinerator.

4. Storm water management.—Storm water should be drained from the site of the incinerator, and should not be permitted entry into the structures housing the incinerator. Storm water should be discharged into the drainage system serving the area in which the incinerator is located.

5. Access roads.—Access to the incinerator should be by all weather road designed and constructed to carry heavy-duty vehicles. Crossings of watercourses should be by culvert or by single-span structures; structures should not be built in watercourses. Watercourse crossings should be designed to withstand flood conditions (once in 10 year storms).

Operating Standards

1. Acceptable waste types.—Only wastes for which an incinerator is designed should be accepted at the incinerator site. All haulers bringing wastes to the incinerator should be registered with the incinerator operator, as should all generators of waste to be treated at the site. No waste should be accepted at the incinerator unless —

(i) the hauler of the waste is registered with the incinerator operator and has a valid permit for hauling biomedical wastes,

(ii) the source of waste generator is registered with the incinerator operator, and

(iii) the waste is packaged as required by the biomedical waste transportation guidelines contained in this document or as those guidelines are amended by the regulatory authority.

In the event that either (i) or (ii) are contravened, the waste should be accepted only following verification that the waste can be treated at the facility. In the event (iii) is contravened, the driver should be required to return the waste to the generator to package the materials correctly. In all cases, contravention of these requirements should be reported to the Ministry of Physical Development, Environment and Housing.

2. Site security.—No person should be allowed to enter the incinerator building unless they are a duly authorized employee working or with business at the incinerator, a person who wishes to deposit waste, or other person with the written permission of the senior operational officer of the incinerator to enter the site. Any individual permitted entry who is not an employee at the site or in the business of depositing waste should by accompanied onsite by a site employee for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the individual while on-site. Any individual on-site without authority should be requested to leave unless they have legitimate business at the site; the assistance of the police should be requested if the individual is uncooperative.

3. Access roads.—Access roads should be maintained in good year round repair suitable for use by heavy vehicles. Ditches should be kept free of debris.

4. Site facilities.—All site structures should be maintained in good repair. All signs should be maintained in good repair and should be clearly and easily legible.

6. Storage and handling of wastes.—All wastes should be incinerated at the first opportunity. A tracking system should be introduced such that all containers of waste entering the incinerator facility are recorded and tagged so as to identify the day by which the waste must be incinerated; a management system for handling the wastes should be developed that ensures that all wastes are incinerated within as soon as possible. At no point should wastes be exposed to the air. The storage room should remain locked unless wastes are being brought into or out of the room.

In the event of an emergency in which the incineration of wastes is not possible within a reasonable time frame the material should be adequately contained so as to avoid harm to health and the environment.

7. Odour, Vector and Vermin Control.—The method of transporting and storing the material should ensure that no odour; vector or vermin problems arise.

In the event of odour problems, the source and cause of the odour should be determined immediately and steps should be taken to correct the situation. In the event of vector or vermin problems, the cause of the problems should be immediately identified and corrected and a pest control expert should be retained to rid the facility of vectors and/or vermin.

8. Worker health and safety.—Protective clothing to be worn at the site should include hearing protection in the vicinity of the incinerator, hard hats, gloves, safety glasses or goggles and steel-capped safety boots. This equipment should be issued to employees and it should be a condition of employment that it is worn during working hours.

All local occupational health and safety requirements should be observed.

In addition, to the extent they are not explicitly covered by such requirements, the following should be undertaken —

(i) rejection of all prohibited wastes from disposal,

(ii) visual inspection of all loads of waste on an “as-delivered” basis and separation of any suspicious wastes of unknown origin,

(iii) use of safety cones and signage to clearly direct traffic movements,

(iv) ensure that no loitering takes place at following delivery of waste,

(v) ensure that only those actively unloading waste leave their vehicle and then only for the purpose of unloading the waste.

(i) a major fire,

(ii) failure of the incinerator to perform to its operational or environmental specifications, and

(iii) a natural disaster.

The contingency plan will be filed with the Ministry of Physical Development Environment and Housing Environment and the National Emergency Management Office.

(i) oil spill pads for clean up of motor oil,

(ii) soda ash or lime for clean up of acids,

(iii) boric acid crystals for clean up of caustic spills,

(iv) sorball, vermiculite, peat moss or other similar absorbent material for other and general purpose spill clean up.

Clean up materials contaminated with these substances should be managed as hazardous waste. All spills will be documented by the facility manager regarding —

(i) the material spilled,

(ii) the cause of the spill,

(iii) action taken to clean up the spill, and

(iv) measures proposed to ensure similar circumstances do not arise in future to cause a spill. A copy of the spill report will be forwarded to the Ministry of Physical Development Environment and Housing.

10. Complaints and monitoring.—All complaints received from the public will be noted and action taken in response to each complaint will be documented.

Conformance with the conditions of operation cited on the licence to operate the landfill should be continually monitored to ensure compliance with licence conditions. Deviations from the environmental performance standards established for the facility, particularly those addressing atmospheric pollutants, will be investigated promptly by the operator and appropriate action taken to correct the deviations.

11. On-site documentation.—Copies of the following documentation should be retained on-site —

(i) the licence to operate the facility,

(ii) the operating procedures for the facility,

(iii) complaint monitoring forms,

(iv) emergency response plans, procedures and monitoring forms,

(v) monitoring forms for all monitoring activities identified above,

(vi) vehicle maintenance and inspection report forms.

WASTE HAULAGE SYSTEMS

This section provides guidelines for the storage and haulage of non-hazardous solid wastes and biomedical waste. The management of other types of waste may reasonably require different storage and haulage systems to ensure that human health and the environment are protected from the potential impacts of the wastes.

Storage of Non-Hazardous Solid Waste

1. Household Waste.—Non-hazardous solid waste should be stored in such a way as to prevent the blowing of waste, the escape of odour and the disturbance of the waste by vermin, dogs or other animals. Typically, waste should be placed in a container that meets these requirements and, in addition, is of such size and weight when full that it can be readily handled within the context of the waste management system.

Plastic bags and rigid plastic or metal containers are commonly used to store household waste. Cardboard boxes and other types of container may also be suitable if the waste inside them is secured. Where rigid, reusable containers are used (e.g. “garbage cans”) householders should be encouraged to place their wastes in a disposable bag before placing the waste in the container. This will help keep the inside of the container clean and discourage odour. Some types of household waste are not amenable to being placed in a bag or a container, for example brush. Brush may be bundled and tied in such a way as to prevent the brush from becoming a nuisance.

Wherever possible, initiatives should be undertaken to require or encourage, as appropriate, householders to keep vegetative waste out of the waste they place for collection. The generator can compost vegetative wastes of all descriptions or the local community to produce compost, a useful soil amendment that will enhance agricultural and flower production. Keeping these wastes out of the collection system will reduce odour and vermin problems in waste collection systems, reduce waste collection costs, extend the life of landfills and reduce the quantity of leachate generated in landfills.

2. Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) Waste.—It is the responsibility of IC&I generators to make their own arrangements for the management of the wastes they generate. Part of this responsibility involves ensuring that the containers that an IC&I generator uses meet the requirements set out in Point (1) of this section, while at the same time being acceptable to the waste hauler.

Storage of Biomedical Waste

1. Biomedical waste typically comprises less than half the total waste generated by a biomedical waste generating facility; the balance is typically non-hazardous solid waste. Accordingly, costs associated with biomedical waste management will be minimised to the extent that biomedical waste is segregated from non-hazardous and other wastes. However, it is very important that this segregation does not result in disposal of biomedical waste in the non-hazardous solid waste stream.

2. Biomedical waste should be stored in containers appropriate to the waste they contain. Reusable containers should be required to be constructed of rigid plastic or metal, and able to withstand cleansers. All waste except sharps that is placed within a reusable container should be bagged in a heavy-duty disposable plastic bag that will not puncture under normal use. Sharps should be placed in a disposable rigid container. Reusable containers should be cleaned with an approved cleanser at least once per week.

3. Biomedical waste may also be placed in a disposable container. The only such containers that are acceptable for all biomedical wastes except sharps are heavy-duty plastic bags that will not puncture under normal use.

4. Sharps are defined to include needles, syringes, blades or laboratory glass used in any type of health care facility, doctors' office, veterinary clinic or similar place. Sharps have potential to not only cut a waste management system worker, but may also be contaminated and so contribute to the spread of disease. Waste sharps should be placed in a rigid disposable container that will not puncture of break. Waste sharps containers are commercially available and should be required to be used by all generators of these wastes.

5. Any biomedical waste that contains body fluids, bone, flesh or other body parts except hair should be stored in a room or other space refrigerated to a maximum of 4ºC and should be disposed of within 4 days of generation.

Vehicles hauling these wastes should maintain the wastes at this temperature (maximum) during transportation. Storage at the point of disposal should likewise not exceed this temperature. All biomedical wastes should be disposed of within 4 days of being generated.

6. All biomedical waste containers should be yellow, except biomedical waste containers that include body fluids, bone, flesh or other body parts except hair. Biomedical waste containers that contain body fluids, bone, flesh or other body parts except hair should be red. In all cases, the containers should be clearly labelled with the international biohazard symbol and should be tagged with a label that certifies the date on which the first waste entering the container was generated.

Waste Haulage

1. Personnel engaged in collecting and hauling wastes that have been placed in a container should be required to undergo training in the following as it relates to their job function and the wastes they collect and haul —

(i) Operation and basic maintenance of the vehicle.

(ii) Proper loading, unloading and vehicle cleaning procedures.

(iii) Relevant legislation and regulation.

(iv) The nature and characteristic of the waste they will handle and procedures and precautions to protect personal and community health.

(v) Emergency response procedures, including response to a spill or accident and use of emergency equipment.

In addition, drivers of waste haulage vehicles should be required to possess a License to operate the waste haulage vehicle issued by the relevant country entity and will be required to maintain the License in good standing.

2. All vehicles engaged in either the commercial haulage of waste or the haulage of waste generated by a commercial or institutional setting should be required to meet the following standards —

(i) Compliance with all local licensing and safety standards or requirements associated with the type, size and class of vehicle in question.

(ii) Storage of waste on the vehicle in such a way that it does not come in contact with a member of the public and cannot blow out of or otherwise fall from the vehicle.

(iii) All vehicles hauling commercially generated waste under contract should be equipped with functioning rear motion alarms and strobe lights, and fire extinguisher.

(iv) Biomedical waste should be placed in a locked compartment on a waste collection vehicle. On no account should biomedical waste be placed in the same vehicle compartment as non-hazardous solid waste, nor should it be compacted or otherwise mechanically compressed. Any biomedical waste containing body fluids, bone, flesh or other body parts except hair should be transported at a maximum temperature of 4ºC.

(vi) The interior storage compartment of vehicles engaged in the commercial haulage of waste should be cleaned regularly (minimum 2 times per week). The exterior of such vehicles should be cleaned as necessary to maintain a clean and tidy image.

(vii) The vehicle should be maintained according to the manufacturers' specifications and should meet the normal operating requirements of the country for that class of vehicle.

(viii) The permit to operate the vehicle for the purpose of waste haulage must be in the vehicle and readily available to the driver.

(ix) To have in force sufficient insurance coverage to provide for the clean up of spills that might occur.

TABLE D.2

Atmospheric Emission Criteria Associated With Biomedical Waste Biomedical waste treatment facilities

Parameter	Maximum Emission	Monitoring Method
Particulate Matter	50 mg/Rm3	In-situ monitoring – 4 hour rolling average
Hydrogen Chloride	75 mg/Rm3	Continuous emission monitor – 24 hour rolling average
Carbon Monoxide	57 mg/Rm3	Continuous emission monitor – 4 hour rolling average
Total polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans	0.5 ng/Rm3	Toxic equivalency factor new international method, based on congener-specific analytical test data

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Schedule 6

1.   Short Title

3.   Establishment of the solid waste management authority

4.   Vesting of solid waste management facilities in the authority

5.   Formulation of solid waste inventory and national waste management strategy

6.   Content and structure of national waste management strategy

7.   Approval of waste management strategy

8.   Amendment of national waste management strategy

9.   Review of national waste management strategy

10.   Approval process for establishment of waste management facilities

11.   Appraisal process

12.   Review of environmental impact assessment reports

13.   Granting full planning approval

14.   Monitoring and enforcement of the conditions of full approval

15.   Environmental impact assessment guidelines

16.   Waste management plans required for development applications

17.   Prohibition on unauthorised disposal of waste

18.   Prohibition on unauthorised removal of waste

19.   Waste management facility licence

20.   Application for a waste management facility licence

21.   Existing facilities deemed to be licensed

22.   Conditions of waste management facility licence

23.   Inspection of waste management facility licence

24.   Waste haulage licence

25.   Waste haulage licence to be displayed

26.   Suspension and cancellation of licences

27.   Contingency plans

28.   Liability in the event of accidents

29.   Powers of planning authority during emergency

30.   Prohibition on the importation of wastes

31.   Liability for and ownership of waste

32.   Requirements for waste handling, separation and processing

33.   Industrial, commercial and institutional waste

34.   Waste storage requirements

35.   Management of used oil

36.   Littering and illegal dumptin of wastes

37.   Waste storage at public events

38.   Derelict motor vehicles, white goods and other scrap metal

39.   Incentives

40.   Monitoring and audits

41.   Authorised officers

42.   Powers and duties of authorised officers

43.   Due diligence defence

44.   Offences

45.   Power to institute proceedings

46.   No statutory authorisation of nuisance

47.   Amendment of schedules

48.   Register of licenses

49.   Act binds the crown

50.   Regulations

51.   Repeal

52.   Transitional

Schedule 1

Schedule 2

Schedule 3

Schedule 4

Schedule 5

Schedule 7

Schedule 9

Schedule 8

2.   Interpretation

Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

Schedule 6

GENERAL SITING, DESIGN AND OPERATING CRITERIA FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES AND HAULAGE SYSTEMS

LANDFILLS

LANDFILL SITING

Negative Impacts Associated With Landfill Site Locations

DESIGN STANDARDS

OPERATING STANDARDS

Table D.1

Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Parameters

COMPOST FACILITIES

SITING STANDARDS

Backyard

On-Site IC&I Composting Facilities

Neighbourhood Composting Facilities

Centralized Composting Facilities

DESIGN STANDARDS

Backyard Composting

On-Site IC&I Composting Facilities

Neighbourhood Composting Facilities

Centralized Composting Facilities

OPERATING STANDARDS

Backyard Composting

On-Site IC&I Composting Facilities

Neighbourhood Composting

Centralised Composting

RECYCLABLE MATERIALS PROCESSING FACILITIES

Siting

Design

Operations

Design Standards

Operating Standards

STEAM STERILIZATION (AUTOCLAVING) FACILITIES

Siting Standards

Design Standards

OPERATING STANDARDS

INCINERATION FACILITIES

Siting Standards

Design Standards

Performance Standards

TABLE 1

Operating Standards

WASTE HAULAGE SYSTEMS

Storage of Non-Hazardous Solid Waste

Storage of Biomedical Waste

Waste Haulage

TABLE D.2

Atmospheric Emission Criteria Associated With Biomedical Waste Biomedical waste treatment facilities

Address

CONTACT

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