Composting regulation in Queensland
In Queensland, composting more than 200 tonnes of organic material per year is classified as environmentally relevant activity (ERA) 53(a) and an environmental authority (EA) is required under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). For more information regarding EA applications, refer to the Business Queensland portal.
Composting is a significant industry in Queensland which annually converts over a million tonnes of organic residues and waste into products which generally improve soil health and quality. Without a composting industry, significantly more organic waste would be landfilled or otherwise disposed of without processing, resulting in a range of environmental and social impacts. However, composting activities also have a high potential to impact the environment and local communities. In recent years, the department has seen an increase in the types and nature of organic and inorganic waste streams in composting. There has also been a considerable number of community reports received state-wide about odour nuisance potentially from composting operations. The department is working with the industry and EA holders to ensure that the industry can continue to supply safe and sustainable compost products and support a circular economy.
New regulations for composting facility standards
The Queensland Government has made regulation changes for compost facilities to reduce the impacts of odour on nearby residents.
These legislative changes ensure that the environmental regulator considers imposing a requirement for new and expanding composting facilities located within four kilometres of a residential zone that receive odorous waste to use in-vessel or enclosed processing.
This form of processing is considered best practice in reducing nuisance odours from leaving the site and affecting nearby residents.
The changes will also provide an additional ground for the regulator to initiate updating the environmental authorities of existing composting facilities on a site-by-site basis.
They will also ensure transporters of odorous waste do not take waste to sites that do not meet this standard.
The changes will not affect composting facilities that are located more than four kilometres away from residential zones or are not receiving odorous waste.
Recent consultation on the proposed changes to the state’s composting regulations was met with overwhelming support from community members, industry, and local government.
More than 93% of community feedback and more than 70% of industry and local government responses called for stronger regulation of composting facilities, with the aim to reduce the impact of nuisance odour on nearby communities. Over 60% of responses received were from community members in the Ipswich area.
Read the consultation summary report .
Composting guidance materials
Several documents have been developed to provide guidance about the regulation of composting activities in Queensland.
Critical Evaluation of Composting Operations and Feedstock Suitability Report
The department engaged Arcadis Australia Pty Ltd to deliver the Critical Evaluation of Composting Operations and Feedstock Suitability Report.
The department has recognised this report as a recognised entity report under section 215(2)(l) of the EP Act.
The EP Act provides the department with the power to amend existing EAs on the basis of a report made by or for, or approved by, a recognised entity (i.e. a recognised entity report). Following the approval of a recognised entity report, the department may choose to amend applicable EAs.
A copy of the report is provided below. All enquiries in relation to this report should be emailed to palm@des.qld.gov.au. Please do not contact the report’s author in relation to the report contents or how the department may use the report.
Phase 1 – Odour issues
Phase 2 - Contamination
Organic Feedstock Odour Rating Assessment
The Organic Feedstock Odour Rating Assessment report complements the Critical Evaluation of Composting Operation and Feedstock Suitability Report and may be used to support a feedstock management plan odour rating process for organic material processing by composting ERA 53(a) activities.
Best Practice Environmental Management ERA 53(a)
The Best Practice Environmental Management ERA 53(a) Guideline provides best practice environmental management guidance for ERA 53(a) Organic material processing by composting. The Guideline is used as a reference document for the regulation of ERA 53(a). The Guideline also assists operators in designing and operating composting facilities to better manage the risk of environmental harm and to achieve environmental outcomes in accordance with the EP Act.
Model operating conditions ERA 53(a)—Organic material processing by composting
The model operating conditions provide a framework of conditions for an EA to carry out ERA 53(a).
The department is currently working with EA holders to modernise conditions for composting operations. The model operating conditions are used as a starting point and may be further tailored to site specific conditions.
Copies of amended composting EAs (including those with conditions that have been updated more recently) can be found on the public register portal.
PFAS in compost – Regulatory position statement
This regulatory position statement briefly describes how the department as the environmental regulator is managing PFAS contamination in organic waste and compost, and how it will support operators to produce high quality, safe and sustainable compost in Queensland.
Information sheet: Monitoring and testing for PFAS in organic material processing
The model operating conditions require regular monitoring and testing of PFAS. This information sheet is intended to assist composting operators to comply with the conditions of their EA, particularly in relation to monitoring and testing requirements.