City of Hazelwood, MO Article III Composting

Section 245.160 Maintenance.

[CC 1997 §26.19; Ord. No. 2335-91, 8-7-1991; Ord. No. 2554-94 §1, 8-17-1994]

A. All compost piles shall be maintained using approved composting procedures to comply with the following requirements:

1. All compost piles shall be enclosed in a freestanding compost bin except as stated herein. Each compost bin shall be no larger in volume than seventy-five (75) cubic feet for properties ten thousand (10,000) square feet and less in size, with an additional seventy-five (75) cubic feet permitted for each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet of space. Compost bins shall be no taller than five (5) feet. Piles without structural containment shall not be allowed to occupy more than a ten (10) square foot area for properties of ten thousand (10,000) square feet or smaller. An additional ten (10) square foot area will be granted for each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet of property. Piles shall not be higher than five (5) feet.

2. All compost piles shall be maintained so as to prevent the attraction or harborage of rodents and pests. The presence of rodents in or near a compost pile shall be cause for the City to issue a complaint.

3. All compost piles shall be maintained so as to prevent unpleasant, rotten egg like, putrefactive, sweet, sour or pungent odors.

4. Unless written permission has been granted by the adjoining property owner, no compost pile shall be located less than three (3) feet from the rear or side property line, or within twenty (20) feet of any home, patio, pool, or similar structure on the adjacent property. All compost piles shall be at least three (3) feet behind the front building setback line.

5. No compost pile shall be located where it will impede the natural free flow of storm water drainage.

Section 245.170 Ingredients.

[CC 1997 §26.20; Ord. No. 2335-91, 8-7-1991; Ord. No. 2554-94, 8-17-1994]

A. No compost pile shall contain any of the following:

1. Lakeweeds;

2. Prepared or cooked food scraps;

3. Fish, fowl, meat or other animal products;

4. Manure;

5. Animal carcasses;

6. Items not normally composted;

7. Dairy products.

B. Permitted ingredients shall include:

1. Yard waste;

2. Commercial compost additives;

3. Wood chips;

4. Raw vegetables, fruit peels, rinds, hair, egg shells, nut shells and coffee grounds.

5. Vegetables, fruit and their remains, egg shells, nut shells, fruit peels, rinds, hair and coffee grounds must be composted in such a way that these materials are buried in the center of the pile so that none of these materials are exposed or visible. Vegetables and fruit scraps must be cut into small pieces.

Section 245.180 Private Use Only.

[CC 1997 §26.21; Ord. No. 2335-91, 8-7-1991]

Compost piles established in accordance with this Article are for private use only. There shall be no commercial provision of material to be composted or commercial use of the product of such composting.

Section 245.190 Owner Responsibility.

[CC 1997 §26.22; Ord. No. 2335-91, 8-7-1991]

Every owner or operator shall be responsible for maintaining all property under his control in accordance with the requirements of this Article.