Composting

Contact: Aaron Hiday hidaya@michigan.gov 517-282-7546
Agency: Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Compost Operator Training - Presentations
Compost Operator Guidebook 

Facilities that manage yard clippings (leaves, grass clippings, vegetable or other garden debris, shrubbery, or brush and tree trimmings less than 4 feet in length and 2 inches in diameter) are required to manage them using one of the following options: 

• Composted at the property where they came from.
• Temporarily accumulated under specific conditions at a site before moving to another location.
• Composted at a farm registered with the Department of Agriculture under specific conditions.
• Composted at a composting facility registered with the EGLE.
• Composted and used under specific conditions at a licensed solid waste landfill.
• Composted at a processing plant meeting Part 115 requirements.
• Composted at a site that has not more than 200 cubic yards of yard clippings if no nuisance is created.
• Decomposed in a controlled manner using a closed container to create and maintain anaerobic conditions (e.g. anaerobic digester).
• Disposed of at a landfill if diseased or infested or the material is an invasive plant collected through an eradication or control program and inappropriate to compost.

Facilities managing over 200 cubic yards of yard clippings must register with EGLE.  For composting facility information:  List of EGLE Registered Composting Facilities.

RESOURCES 

• Residential Frequently Asked Composting Questions 
• Composting Facilities Frequently Asked Questions 
• Flowchart to help determine when a composting facility needs to be registered 
• Compost Testing Parameters (PDF)
• Yard Clippings Composting Isolation Distances 
• Michigan Department of Agriculture link to on-farm composting registration form 
• Managing Yard Clippings at Landfills 
• Water Management at Composting Sites
• Management of Water at Compost Sites
• Compost Rack Card

FORMS 

• Compost Combined Registration/Renewal Form (PDF) or (WORD)

NOTE:  THIS REGISTRATION FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE $600 FEE TO:   

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY
COMPOST PROGRAM
P.O. BOX 30657 
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8157

For OVERNIGHT DELIVERY: 

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY
ACCOUNTING SERVICE CENTER
425 WEST OTTAWA STREET
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933

• Compost Annual Report Form 2020 (PDF)
• Compost Annual Report Form 2020 (Word)

These forms represent a sample format of the records that must be kept according to Section 11521(4)(d)(ii).  The forms can be changed to meet your individual needs but they must contain all the information contained on these examples.   

Compost Faciltiy Operational Records (PDF) or (WORD)

Compost Volume Tracking (PDF) or (WORD)

REGULATIONS 

• Act 212 of 2007 (amends Part 115, Solid Waste Management, 1994 PA 451) 
• Part 115 of PA 451 
• Part 115 Administrative Rules