Materials Management Facilities

• An Anaerobic Digester (AD) is a facility that uses microorganisms to break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen, producing methane and an organic product.

• Anaerobic Digesters have 3 authorization levels:
  • Manages organic material generated on-site for energy production and takes 20% or less of material generated off-site.
    • Notify EGLE annually.
    • Must report upon initial operation AND report annually 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14th).
    • Required to be consistent with county plans.
    • 1-year to comply with notification requirements (by March 2024).
  • Manages organic material generated on-site for energy production and takes more than 20% of off-site generated material.
    • Register every 5 years with submittal of an operations plan and site map.
    • $750 registration fee.
    • Must report upon initial operation AND report annually 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14^th).
    • Required to be consistent with county plans.
    • 1-year to comply with registration requirements (by March 2024).
  • Manages only off-site generated source separated material, manures, bedding, and/or crop residuals.
    • Obtain a general permit every 5 years with the department with submittal of an operations plan and site map.
    • $1,000 general permit fee.
    • Must  report upon initial operation AND report annually 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14th).
    • Required to be consistent with county plans.
    • Required to have $20,000 of financial assurance.
    • 2-years to comply with general permitting requirements (March 2025).

For more information, please contact EGLE's Organics Coordinator.

• A Composting facility is a facility where composting occurs. Composting is the process of biological decomposition of class 1 compostable material or class 2 compostable material.

• This facility type has 4 authorization levels based on size and materials composted:

• Exempt Facilities
  • Less than 500 cubic yards of Class 1 compostable materials on site at any time.
  • Composted on the site where materials are generated.
  • Composted and used on a farm.
  • Composted at a licensed landfill provided ALL the finished material is used at the landfill.
  • These facilities are still encouraged to report as an exempt composting facility. If your county and/or region plans to use your facility to meet capacity needs for the planning area the facility must report annually.

• Small Composting Facilities – 500 cubic yards to 1000 cubic yards on site at any time.
  • Must notify EGLE annually.
  • Cannot contain more than 5% of class 1 compostable materials other than yard waste.
  • Must report upon initial operation AND report annually 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14th).
  • Required to be consistent with county plans.
  • 1-year to comply with notification requirements (by March 2024).

• Medium Composting Facility – 1,000 cubic yards to 10,000 cubic yards of Class 1 compostable materials on site at any time.
  • Register every 5 years with the submittal of an operations plan and site map.
  • $750 registration fee.
  • No more than 5,000 cubic yards per any acre of the site.
  • Cannot contain more than 10% of class 1 compostable materials other than yard waste.
  • Must report upon initial operation AND report annually 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14th).
  • Annual facility inspections.
  • Required to be consistent with county plans.
  • 1-year to comply with registration requirements (by March 2024).

• Large Composting Facility – over 10,000 cubic yards on site at any time OR doesn't meet the requirements for a small/medium facility, or any size Class 2 composting facility.
  • Obtain a general permit every 5 years with the submittal of an operations plan and site map.
  • $1,000 general permit fee.
  • Must report upon initial operation AND report annually 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14th).
  • Annual facility inspections.
  • Each site is required to have $20,000 of financial assurance.
  • Required to be consistent with county plans.
  • 2-year to comply with permit requirements (by March 2025).

For more information on commercial composting requirements, please visit EGLE's Commercial Composting Page. 

• A Materials recovery facility is a facility that meets both of the following requirements: (a) Receives primarily source separated material and sorts, bales, or processes the source separated material for reuse, recycling, or utilization as a raw material or new product. (b) On an annual basis, does not receive an amount of solid waste equal to or more than 15% of the total weight of material received by the facility unless the materials recovery facility is making a reasonable effort and has an education program to reduce the amount of solid waste. Material disposed of as a result of recycling market fluctuations is not included in the 15% calculation.

• This facility type has 3 authorization levels based on size:
  • Processes less than 100 tons of materials per year and has less than 100 tons on-site at any time.
    • Exempt facility.
    • These facilities are still encouraged to report as an exempt materials recovery facility. If your county and/or region plans to use your facility to meet capacity needs for the planning area, the facility must report annually.

• Processes more than 100 tons of material per year and has less than 100 tons on-site at any time.
  • Registration required every 5 years with the submittal of an operations plan and site map.
  • $750 registration fee.
  • Must annually report 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14^th).
  • Required to be consistent with county plans.
  • 1-year to comply with registration requirements (by March 2024).

• Has more than 100 tons on-site at any time.
  • Obtain a general permit every 5 years with the submittal of an operations plan and site map.
  • $1,000 general permit fee.
  • Must annually report 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14^th).
  • Required to be consistent with county plans.
  • Facility required to obtain $20,000 in financial assurance.
  • 2-years to comply with general permit requirements (by March 2025).

For more information, please review the Waste Diversion Center presentation or contact EGLE's Solid Waste Section.

• An Innovative Technology Facility means a materials management facility that converts solid waste into energy or a usable product and that is not a materials recovery facility, a composting facility, or an anaerobic digester.

• This facility type has 1 authorization level:
  • Must obtain a general permit every 2 years with the submittal of an operations plan and site map.
  • $1,000 general permit fee.
  • Financial assurance required that is based on third party closure costs.
  • Must annually report upon initial operation AND 45 days after the end of the state fiscal year (by November 14th).
  • 2-year to comply with registration requirements (by March 2025).

For more information, please contact the Solid Waste Section.

• A Solid Waste Processing and Transfer Facility is a tract of land, a building or unit and any appurtenances of a building or unit, a container, or any combination of these that is used or intended for use in the handling, storage, transfer, or processing of solid waste, and is NOT located at the site of generation or the site of disposal of solid waste.

• This facility type has 3 authorization levels based on size:
  • Less than 50 cubic yards of solid waste on-site at any time.
    • Required to notify and report annually (by November 14th).
    • 1-year to comply with notification requirements (by March 2024).
  • Greater than 50 cubic yards but less than 200 cubic yards of solid waste on-site at any time.
    • 5-year registration with submittal of an operations plan and site map.
    • Fee of $750 at time of registration or renewal.
    • Annual reporting (by November 14th).
    • Required to be consistent with County Materials Management Plans.
    • 1-year to comply with registration requirements (by March 2024).
  • More than 200 cubic yards on-site at any time.
    • Operating license and Construction Permit required with the submittal of an operations plan and site map.
    • $1,000 fee for Operating License and $500 - $2,000 fee for Construction Permit License.
    • Financial Assurance of $20,000 required.
    • Annual reporting (by November 14th).
    • 2-year post closure period.
    • Required to be consistent with county plans.

Facilities in operation before the amendments must comply with their existing licensing renewal schedule.

For more information, please visit EGLE's Solid Waste Disposal Area Page.

• Waste Diversion Center (WDC) means property or a building, or a portion of property or a building, designated for the purpose of receiving or collecting diverted wastes and not used for residential purposes.
• Diverted waste is material that:
  • Is generated by households, businesses or governmental entities.
  • Can lawfully be disposed of at a licensed landfill or a municipal solid waste incinerator.
  • Is separated from other waste.
  • Includes material such as:
    • Hazardous waste. 
    • Liquid waste.
    • Pharmaceuticals.
    • Electronics.
    • Batteries.
    • Light bulbs.
    • Pesticides.
    • Thermostats, switches, thermometers, and other devices that contain elemental mercury.
    • Sharps.
    • Other waste approved by the department that can be readily separated from solid waste for diversion to preferred methods of management and disposal.
• WDC have 1 authorization level:
  • Required to notify and report annually (by November 14th).
  • Required to be consistent with County Materials Management Plans.
  • No fee associated with this type of facility authorization.

For more information, please contact EGLE Waste Diversion Program Coordinator.