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. 

The applicant for this permit must first apply a Solid Waste Processing Facility Construction Permit. After the applicant has received a construction permit and completed construction of all pre-operational features, they may apply for an operating permit.

The department will conduct an inspection to make sure all features were constructed according to the approved plans and permit. An operating permit must be obtained before the solid waste landfill may begin accepting waste. 

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. DO you have more information to add???

Incinerator – facilities consisting of any device or structure resulting in weight or volume reduction of solid waste by combustion.  DO you have more information to add???

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

Permits issued for solid waste facilities shall be for the anticipated life of the facility. According to sections 260.200 to 260.345, RSMo, permits granted by the department shall be subject to suspension for a designated period of time, civil penalty or revocation whenever the department determines that the solid waste processing facility or solid waste disposal area is, or has been, operated in violation of sections 260.200 to 260.345, RSMo or the rules or regulations adopted pursuant to sections 260.200 to 260.345, RSMo, or has been operated in violation of any permit terms and conditions, or is creating a public nuisance, health hazard, or environmental pollution. In the event a permit is suspended or revoked, the person named in the permit shall be fully informed as to the reasons for such action.

Laws, Rules and Regulations

How to Apply

Applications

The permit applicant applies for an operating permit after all pre-operational features have been constructed. An operating permit must be obtained before the solid waste landfill may begin accepting waste. To request an operating permit, the permit applicant submits the following information:

  • A letter, sent by certified mail and signed by the owner/operator and a professional engineer, stating the pre-operational features of the solid waste processing facility have been completed in compliance with the construction permit and approved engineering plans
  • Any necessary as-built drawings

The department will conduct an inspection to make sure all features were constructed according to the approved plans and permit. If an operating permit is issued, it is effective for the life of the facility. Operating permits are transferable as a permit modification.

Fees

Application and engineering review cost fees are used to fund the department’s solid waste management operations, as detailed in the Missouri Revised Statutes, sections 260.200 to 260.345, RSMo. The application fees are non-refundable and must be submitted with the permit application. Applicants who withdraw their application before the department completes its evaluation are required to reimburse the department for costs incurred in the evaluation.

  • Nonreturnable Application fee: $1,000
  • Engineering Review Costs: All reasonable costs incurred by the department, up to a maximum of $4,000

Timeline/ Process

The department must issue or deny an operating permit within 60 days of receiving the permit application. The department will request additional information if the application is not complete, which will delay the review process.

When the review reveals the area does conform with the state rules and regulations, the department shall issue a permit for the operation of each solid waste processing facility and with any permit terms and conditions which the department deems appropriate. In the event that the area fails to meet the rules and regulations, the department will issue a report to the applicant stating the reason for denial of a permit.

Public Participation

Upon receipt of an application for a permit to construct a solid waste processing facility, the department shall notify the public:

  1. By legal notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed processing facility;
  2. By certified mail to the governing body of the county or city in which the proposed processing facility is to be located; and
  3. By mail to the last known address of all record owners of contiguous real property or real property located within 1,000 feet of the proposed processing facility..  

­­If an application for a construction permit meets all statutory and regulatory requirements for issuance, the department will hold a public hearing on the draft permit prior to the issuance of the permit. The department will provide public notice of such hearing by both printed and broadcast media at least 30 days prior to such hearing. Printed notification shall include publication in at least one newspaper having general circulation within the county in which the proposed disposal area is to be located. Broadcast notification shall include public service announcements on radio stations that have broadcast coverage within the county in which the proposed disposal area is to be located.

Administrative Hearing Commission

Anyone who is adversely affected by the director's decision to issue, deny, suspend or revoke a permit must appeal within 30 days of the decision to the Administrative Hearing Commission as provided by 621.250.3 RSMo. All appeals must be filed by petition and send to:

Administrative Hearing Commission
PO Box 1557
Jefferson City, MO 65102

For public notice information about any currently proposed solid waste processing facilities, visit Public Notices/ Public Comments.

Requirements

Renewal

Resources

For more information about each category and a list of operating processing facilities, visit Operating Solid Waste Processing Facilities.

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