Substitute House Bill No. 6503 Summary

• Anaerobic digestion facilities collocated with animal feeding operations on farms are exempt from construction permits if the facility maintains a comprehensive nutrient management plan and feedstock is at least 50% farm-generated organic waste with no more than 40% food scraps and paper.

• Animal feeding operations with permitted anaerobic digestion facilities must submit annual reports by July 31st to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection detailing the amount of farm-generated organic waste processed and its sources.

• Commercial food businesses generating specified tonnage thresholds of source-separated organic materials must separate and recycle them at authorized composting facilities, with thresholds decreasing from 104 tons (2014) to 26 tons per year (2022).

• Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection must establish two classes of compost with different contaminant standards: Class I from separated organic materials for unrestricted use, and Class II from mixed waste restricted from agricultural use unless meeting Class I standards.

• Permitted solid waste facilities may receive up to 75 tons per day of containerized food scraps and processing residuals without permit modification if stored in fully enclosed buildings with proper odor and vector controls.