Compostable Materials Initiatives

1998-99 Compost Odor Management Initiative

Odor is the number one operational challenge that threatens sites in California. Due to the encroachment of residential and commercial properties, all sites, with the exception of a few agricultural sites, will need to explore a strategy of odor minimization. For all of the latest information on odors at composting sites or facilities please visit our Compostable Materials Odors webpage.

In March 1998, the CIWMB convened the Compostable Organics Facilities Odor Workgroup, consisting of enforcement agencies, air pollution control districts, and air quality management districts, as required by Public Resources Code Section 43209.1 (Senate Bill 675 [Costa] Chapter 788, Statutes of 1997).

The law required the workgroup to make "recommendations on odor measurement and thresholds, complaint response procedures, and enforcement tools and take any other action necessary to ensure that enforcement agencies respond in a timely and effective manner to complaints of odors emanating from composting facilities" by April 1, 1999. Additionally, the CIWMB is required to implement the recommendations of the workgroup, "that the board determines to be appropriate," by January 1, 2000.

The original SB 675 Workgroup developed recommendations for handling odor nuisances at composting operations and submitted them to then-Chairman Eaton by memorandum on March 30, 1999. Staff then conducted six public workshops to receive input on the original recommendations from industry and other interested parties. Six workshops drew 179 attendees, including 90 industry representatives. Board Staff presented information from the workshops and final recommendations to the Board on November 16, 1999.

•    Original Workgroup Recommendations
•    Workshop Results
•    Board Agenda Item (November 16, 1999)

Additional resources:

• Projects to advance California's organic materials industry: February 18, 2000 letter to compost and mulch producers.
• Follow-up plans in response to Department of Health Services report "Bioaerosols and Green-Waste Composting in California": August 13, 1999 letter to directors of environmental health.

Compost Initiatives Home

Last updated: October 21, 2008