HF 547 (LSB 2207HH (2) 88)

HOUSE FILE 547

BY  SHIPLEY

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the installation and use of composting toilets.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 455B.171, Code 2019, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  1A.  “Composting toilet” means a self-contained system consisting of a composter and a separate toilet fixture from which no liquid or solid waste materials are discharged to the surface or subsurface environment and from which a compost-like end product is produced.
    Sec. 2.  Section 455B.172, Code 2019, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  12.  A building may be served by a composting toilet subject to the following conditions:
   a.  Liquid wastewater is not discharged from the composting toilet. If the composting toilet produces a liquid by-product that is not composted through the toilet, the liquid by-product must be disposed of through any of the following methods:
   (1)  Removal and proper disposal by a person licensed to dispose of waste pursuant to subsection 6.
   (2)  Disposal through a method approved by the department.
   b.  The system shall be designed to store compostable and composted solids for at least two years, unless otherwise approved by the department. Residuals from the system shall be disposed of through any of the following methods:
   (1)  By burial on-site or in another manner and location approved by the department, covered with a minimum of six inches of clean, compacted earth, and subject to rules for the land disposal of yard waste adopted by the commission pursuant to section 455D.9.
   (2)  By a person licensed to dispose of waste pursuant to subsection 6.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the installation and use of composting toilets. The bill allows a building to be served by a composting toilet provided liquid wastewater is not discharged and the system is capable of storing compostable or composted solids for at least two years. If the system produces liquid by-product, the by-product shall be removed by a person licensed to dispose of such material or by an alternative method approved by the department of natural resources. Solid residuals shall be disposed of either by burying the residuals on-site or in a manner and location approved by the department, or disposed of by a person licensed to dispose of waste.