A solid waste processing facility is any facility where solid wastes are transferred from one container to another or are processed. Types of facilities include transfer stations, material recovery facilities and infectious waste facilities. For more information about each category and a list of operating processing facilities, visit Operating Solid Waste Processing Facilities.
According to Code of State Regulations 10 CSR 80-2, companies that want to construct or operate a solid waste processing facility in Missouri are required to obtain the necessary solid waste permits, as described below. The permits are legally binding, enforceable documents that list what solid wastes can be accepted and identify any special handling requirements. Only solid wastes for which the facility has been specifically designed and performance tested to manage can be accepted. A solid waste processing facility permitted to treat or process infectious waste must follow additional requirements.
Some facilities or operations may be allowed an exemption to operate without a solid waste processing facility permit. Waste processing that salvages materials, sorts out items for re-use and does not generate waste to go to a landfill may not require a permit. These material processing operations must not cause any public health or environmental problems to retain its permit-exempt status.
To learn more about whether an activity requires a solid waste processing facility permit, visit Activities Potentially Exempt from Solid Waste Regulations.
Types of Processing Facilities
Compost Plant - a facility that uses a controlled process of microbial degradation of organic material which was not source-separated into a stable, nuisance-free humus-like product.
Incinerator – facilities consisting of any device or structure resulting in weight or volume reduction of solid waste by combustion.
Infectious Waste - facilities accept infectious waste to either transfer it from smaller trucks into larger tractor trailers for transporting to a permitted disposal facility or to process the waste, treating the material so that it is no longer infectious. In Missouri, infectious waste is a defined as a waste that contains strong and numerous pathogens that if someone comes in contact with it, that person could get an infectious disease from it.
The department regulates and oversees facilities that process wastes, which are issued Solid Waste Processing Facility Permits to perform the following activities:
- Transferring waste from one container, vessel or vehicle to another
- Consolidating individual waste loads in preparation for transport to a landfill
- Separating the waste for recycling or disposal
- Recovering or salvaging specific items from the waste for sale or re-use
- Treating waste to kill pathogens in the waste, such as bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms, that may pose a threat to public health
- Incinerating waste for disposal or to produce energy
Some facilities or operations may be allowed an exemption to operate without a solid waste processing facility permit. Waste processing that salvages materials, sorts out items for re-use and does not generate waste to go to a landfill may not require a permit. These material processing operations must not cause any public health or environmental problems to retain its permit-exempt status.
Transfer Stations - facilities where solid waste is unloaded directly from trash collection containers into a different collection or transport container, or the solid waste is briefly stored within the facility until it is placed in a different collection or transport container for transporting to a permitted disposal facility. By combining the loads of several small waste collection trucks into a single large tractor trailer for transporting, the number of trips to and from disposal sites is reduced and money is saved on transportation costs.
The department regulates and oversees facilities that process wastes, which are issued Solid Waste Processing Facility Permits to perform the following activities:
- Transferring waste from one container, vessel or vehicle to another
- Consolidating individual waste loads in preparation for transport to a landfill
- Separating the waste for recycling or disposal
- Recovering or salvaging specific items from the waste for sale or re-use
- Treating waste to kill pathogens in the waste, such as bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms, that may pose a threat to public health
- Incinerating waste for disposal or to produce energy
Some facilities or operations may be allowed an exemption to operate without a solid waste processing facility permit. Waste processing that salvages materials, sorts out items for re-use and does not generate waste to go to a landfill may not require a permit. These material processing operations must not cause any public health or environmental problems to retain its permit-exempt status.
Material Recovery - facilities where materials are received and sorted to allow recyclable or recoverable materials to be removed from the waste stream. These materials may be recycled, reused, composted or processed through other methods, preparing it for reuse or generating a new product from the processed material. The materials are then transported to buyers for remanufacturing, sold for beneficial use or kept by the facility for beneficial use.
If the material that comes into the recovery facility is source-separated material that may all be reused, recycled or processed into different or new products, and no waste is produced during the material processing in the facility, the facility may be allowed an exemption to operate without a solid waste processing facility permit. However, if waste materials are mixed with the materials that come into the recovery facility to be processed for reuse, recycling or other processing, or waste is produced by the facility during the material processing, then the facility must operate with a solid waste processing facility permit.
Length of Permit
If approved, the construction permit remains valid for the life of the facility. However, the owner of the disposal area or landfill is required to obtain a construction permit for each additional expansion or new construction project at the facility.
If the department determines a disposal area is in violation of state or federal laws, or creating a public nuisance or health hazard, the department may order the facility to make alterations, per Section 260.230 RSMo.
Laws, Rules and Regulations
- Federal Law: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCA) Subtitle D
- State Law: Solid Waste Management Law Sections 260.200 to 260.345 RSMo
- Code of State Regulations: Division 80 – Solid Waste Management, 10 CSR 80
- Commission, Board, Council: Missouri Solid Waste Advisory Board