Section 345IAC7-7-3.5. Composting

  5. (a) A person composting animal carcasses or condemned and inedible waste must meet the following requirements:

(1) The composting operation must be operated in a manner that meets all of the following conditions:

(A) The compost pile is secured in a manner that can reasonably be expected to prevent domestic and wild animals from disrupting the compost pile, such as:

(i) securing the compost pile in a building or a [sic] within a fenced area;

(ii) covering the compost pile in a manner that prevents access to the pile; or

(iii) using an in-vessel composting system.

(B) Carcasses added to a compost pile must be completely covered with the carbon amendment at the time the carcasses are added.

(C) Leachate runoff must be prevented or controlled using a method that can reasonably be expected to accomplish the requirement, such as:

(i) locating the compost pile in a building;

(ii) covering the compost pile with a tarp or under a roof; or

(iii) using a sufficient amount of carbon material underneath the compost pile and covering the compost pile.

(D) The process must expose the material being processed to conditions that:

(i) are reasonably likely to kill pathogenic organisms; and

(ii) will thoroughly and completely break down the material.

Any part that is not completely composted must be removed from the compost prior to application and must be disposed of in accordance with section 3 of this rule.

(2) A person disposing of animal carcasses and condemned and inedible waste from other operations must obtain a disposal plant permit from the board under IC 15-17-11 prior to accepting carcasses or waste from other operations for disposal. However, the following may be transported to another site and accepted for composting without a permit:

(A) Persons and activities excluded from this rule under section 2(d) of this rule.

(B) Animal carcasses and condemned and inedible waste from facilities under common ownership or management.

  (b) A slaughtering establishment must meet the following additional requirements to compost animal carcasses and condemned and inedible waste:

(1) The composting operation may not be located in a facility that:

(A) shares a common wall or roof with the slaughtering establishment; or

(B) utilizes the same air handling equipment as the slaughtering establishment.

(2) Equipment and supplies used in the composting operation may not be moved into the slaughtering establishment.

(3) The slaughtering establishment must establish and follow procedures that will prevent adulteration of products intended for human food from the movement of personnel between the compost facility and the slaughtering establishment.

  (c) The state veterinarian may order that any particular animal or condemned and inedible waste, or any class of animal or waste, not be composted, or composted in a particular manner, in order to prevent the spread of disease and protect the public health. (Indiana State Board of Animal Health; 345 IAC 7-7-3.5; filed Nov 4, 2002, 12:07 p.m.: 26 IR 695; readopted filed Jul 18, 2008, 8:16 a.m.: 20080813-IR-345080287RFA; filed Jun 16, 2011, 8:46 a.m.: 20110713-IR-345100561FRA)