Amending Code by Inclusion of New Article 12 Addressing Residential Composting Regulations

Home Browse Search

Residential Composting Regulations Ordinance Page 3 provisions set forth in Paragraph (b) of this Section the individual(s) charged with managing the community garden must contact the Department of Code Enforcement and provide the following information: 1. Commonly known address of the location or Proposed location of the community garden; 2. Name of the individual(s) and /or non -Profit organization(s) who will manage the community garden and see that it will be maintained, 3. Map of the pareel(s) of land showing the setback lines Proposed area an d Proposed size of the compost area. Upon approval by the Director of the Department of Code Enforcement or his/her designee the compost area may be developed subject to all other provisions set forth in this Article See. 14 -118. Compost Containers. (a) Composting may be conducted within a covered or uncovered container, enclosed on all vertical sides. Containers shall be of a durable material and shall be constructed and maintained in a structurally sound manner. Wood used in the construction of a compost container shall be free of rot. (b) Compost containers include bins composters and compost digesters (c) The pile method or having uncontained e� materials for composting is not permitted 4 See. 14 -119. Materials Permitted and Not Permitted to be Composted (a) Only organic materials such as prass clippings leaves spent flowers weeds; as well as sawdust, wood ash, plant trimmings straw, fruit and vegetable peels egg shells lettuce leaves and trimmings from kitchen scraps coffee grounds tea leaves/bags and other raw non greasy food wastes may be placed in any compost container. (b) None of the following materials shall be placed in any compost container: meat bones oils, fish, dairy products, any greasy kitchen wastes bread plastics synthetic fibers human or net wastes, cat litter, treated or painted wood and diseased plants.' Regulations prohibiting the pile method are consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publication entitled GreenScapcs U.S. EPA Sustainable Landscapes publication entitled "Backyard Composting — It's Only Natural ", October 2009, EPA530 -F -09 -026, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk. 5 These regulations are consistent with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)'s Fact Sheet on "Backyard Composting ", August 2013, and Purdue University Cooperative Extension's Home & Environment