1. permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
Yard Trash Processing
permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
informational update
december 15, 2016
hooshang boostani, p.e., director
epc waste management division

2. permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
Yard Trash Processing
permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
What is Yard Trash?
Vegetative matter from landscape maintenance or land clearing and includes tree and shrub trimmings, grass clippings, palm fronds, tree stumps and associated rocks and soils and clean wood.
What is a Yard Trash Processing Facility (YTPF)?
a yard trash transfer station or a facility that processes yard trash into size reduced, usable material or compost. Manure is also included in materials approved for management at a YTPF.
Currently 12 YTPFs operate in Hillsborough County including 3 owned/operated by Hillsborough County government.
Benefits of YTPF operations:
· decrease illegal dumping.
· handle enormous waste volumes;
· contribute to recycling and beneficial reuse (mulch, potting soil, top soil, fuel)

3. permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
Yard Trash Processing
permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
In May 1995 the FDEP exempted YTPFs from State solid waste permitting requirements and instituted a renewable registration program (annual renewals required).
Information required for registered YTPFs:
· Site ownership and location
· Material description
· Fee
· Annual volume/tonnage reporting
Registered YTPFs are inspected by FDEP compliance personnel once every 4 years.
Since the 1995 State permitting exemption, the EPC has been the primary agency monitoring YTPFs in Hillsborough County.
Majority of counties defer regulation of YTPFs to FDEP’s registration and compliance program.

4. permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
Yard Trash Processing
permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
Based on multiple fires at a south tampa permitted compost facility in early 1997 significantly impacting nearby communities, the EPC Board urged development of more protective YTPF performance and compliance Standards.
At that time more stringent site design and owner/operator responsibility requirements were developed and implemented through the EPC’s Director’s Authorization Program:
· storage;
· fire protection;
· annual fire authority inspection;
· financial assurance.
These requirements were codified in Chapter 1-7 Rules of the Environmental Protection Commission in 2002.

5. permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
Yard Trash Processing
permitting & compliance in hillsborough county
All facilities in Hillsborough County operate in accordance with a currently valid Directors’ Authorization (5 year Authorization term)
Aspects of Director’s Authorization’s required for all facilities include:
· facility maintenance and repair;
· storm water control;
· operations and site design criteria;
· annual FDEP registration;
· fire prevention and site security measures;
· control of nuisance conditions;
· financial assurance;
· maintenance of records and annual reporting
All facilities are inspected on a quarterly basis for compliance purposes.

6. Facility Name Materials Managed Capacity End Products Site Acres
Martin Equipment Services
Yard trash; bedding waste
20,000 yds3
Mulch; soil; fuel
4.5
Hills. Co. Northwest
Yard trash
30,000 tons
Fuel 10
Angelo’s Recycled Materials
12,000 yds3
1.5
Busch Gardens
Yard trash; manures
3,300 yds3
Compost
2.7
Biomass Services
13,000 yds3
2.5
CRR Tampa
4,000 tons 5
Mother’s Organics
Yard trash; vegetative waste
290,000 yds3 54
Hills. Co. Falkenburg Rd.
Bay Mulch
74,000 yds3 12
Farkas Landclearing
7,000 yds3
Soil additive
0.6
Mid-Florida Tree Service
3,500 yds3
Mulch; soil
15.0
Hills. Co. South 17

8. Martin Equipment Services YTPF 18510 tyler road odessa florida
Martin Facility
Approved
Area
Expansion Area
Tyler Road

9. Facility History
Fall 2013: Martin Equipment Services submits an application to EPC to operate a yard trash processing facility.
Spring 2014: Following compliance with the general noticing requirements under Chapter , Rules of the EPC, and noticing the authorization through the Tampa Tribune, Martin Equipment Services receives a Director’s Authorization from EPC.
Spring 2015: EPC begins working with the facility to respond to multiple citizen complaints.

10. EPC/County Staff Response
EPC staff conducted approximately 60 site visits in the last 2 years.
· 9 unannounced quarterly compliance inspections
· 45 complaint investigations (noise, dust, smell and wetlands)
In addition, Code Enforcement, Development Services and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue have also responded to the site in response to citizen concerns. Zoning has been determined appropriate by Hillsborough County.
EPC recorded several noise violations with one specific activity (tub grinding) which were corrected. Staff observed other minor non-compliance issues regarding the Director’s Authorization and a wetland issue.
· Director’s Authorization related issues are being addressed through a currently pending Authorization modification request.
· Wetland issues have been corrected.
EPC concluded that the operation of the Martin Equipment Services facility does not represent a nuisance as defined by our Act.