Quality in, quality out:
materials accepted for composting

Few people associate the word "quality" with "waste," but we do, because the quality of incoming feedstocks significantly impacts market value of the resulting compost products.  As a commercial compost manufacturer, we evaluate each new feedstock before adding it to our list of available ingredients.

McGill is permitted to accept and process any non-hazardous organic waste material at its facilities, as well as compatible non-organics which either enhance the process or add value to the finished compost.  These materials include, but are not limited to --

• WOOD, C&D AND PAPER -- chips, sawdust, bark, charcoal, wood ash, clean dimensional lumber, land clearing debris (including topsoil), unpainted/untreated wood (including pallets) and gypsum products, engineered wood (additional tests may be required to determine appropriateness for composting), dirty paper, pulp, waxed and unwaxed cardboard
• FOOD WASTE (including meat and dairy) -- scraps and culls, past sell-by, biodegradable food service ware (bioware), restaurant grease, agricultural manures, bedding, other agricultural and food processing by-products
• SLUDGE AND OTHER RESIDUALS -- Alum, ferric, biosolids, DAF and other water/wastewater treatment residuals/by-products from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources

All feedstocks must meet or exceed:

• EPA Class A toxicity and metals standards for finished compost
• Regulatory requirements established by operating permits
• McGill policies and processing standards

Our internal review process takes less than 30 days and ensures compliance with regulatory and processing parameters. Biochemical and physical characteristics are evaluated, as well as generation rates, materials handling and transportation requirements.  We will ask for a copy of a recent waste analysis and additional testing may be required, depending on the material to be processed.

For more information about our acceptance procedures, contact the intake services representative at your nearest McGill facility.