S.B. 486 Summary

• Exempts artisan-scale composting operations from Hawaii Department of Health regulations when sited on industrially or agriculturally zoned land.

• Defines artisan-scale composting as facilities accepting no more than one cubic yard of non-pathogenic organic materials monthly, where the waste generator controls the site and applies the finished compost.

• Requires operations to not produce vectors, dust, or odors that unreasonably impact neighbors, limit waste retention to 36 months, use sufficient bulking agent for aeration, and allow only one operation per contiguous property.

• Exempts precipitation and surface water contact with yard trimmings from leachate regulations if managed on-site and compliant with state water quality standards.

• Takes effect July 1, 2021, and aims to divert organic waste from landfills, reduce methane emissions, support local farmers, and advance Hawaii's solid waste reduction goals.