In Missouri, solid waste management is regulated to prevent threats to human health and the environment. Federal and state regulations may require individuals and businesses to obtain specific solid waste permits or licenses to conduct certain activities. The permits and licenses often have conditions and terms that direct the performance of actions or operations and ensure proper management and disposal of the solid waste.
In most circumstances, solid waste is required to be placed in a permitted landfill for disposal. However, certain waste materials may be salvaged for continued use, or recovered and reused for another purpose that extends the value of that material. Some waste recovery, reuse or repurposing activities may not require a permit, as long as the activity does not cause a hazard to human health, a hazard to the environment or a public nuisance. Although the activities may be exempt from solid waste permitting requirements, there may be criteria you must meet to be granted the permit exemption. Examples of common activities and wastes that are permit-exempt, as long as other requirements of the Missouri Solid Waste Management Law and regulations met, are described below. These activities are discussed in greater detail within the tabs below:
- Removing items from the waste stream for reuse, whether that use is for the same or a different purpose. Recycling drop-off areas allow the public to participate in this reuse/ repurposing process
- Individuals or single businesses and institutions sorting or separating waste on the property where it is generated, which is then reused on-site or taken elsewhere for reuse or manufacturing into new products
- Composting or co-composting waste materials
- Reusing bottom ash and boiler slag materials for ice and snow control or daily cover at a landfill
- Reusing fly ash as a component of concrete or flowable fill
- Reusing Type C fly ash, bottom ash or boiler slag for road base or structural fill or Type C fly ash as a soil amendment or for soil stabilization
- Sorting and separating construction and demolition waste materials for reuse
- Using “clean” waste materials for fill purposes to level ground or raise the ground’s surface elevation
Other activities or waste management processes may be exempt under solid waste permitting requirements, but are regulated under another state or local law, such as the Missouri Air Conservation Law, Missouri Clean Water Law or your local county or municipal ordinance(s). Before beginning any waste recovery or reuse activities, please consult with the department's Air Pollution Control Program, Water Protection Program and your local government to ensure you do not violate their requirements.