State guides / California

California compost facility recordkeeping requirements

Agency

CalRecycle

Citation

14 CCR §17868.3 (pathogen reduction) and §17869 (recordkeeping)

Diversion

SB 1383 organic waste diversion

What California expects you to record

• Windrow: 55 °C or above for 15 days with at least 5 turnings during the high-temperature period.
• Records are generally expected to be retained and available to the enforcement agency on request.
• Facilities are tiered (Notification, Registration, Full Permit) — your tier affects what must be reported and how often.

Pathogen reduction (PFRP) in practice

Most states build on the federal process in 40 CFR 503 Appendix B: windrows must hold 55 °C or above for 15 days with at least five turnings during that period, while aerated static piles and in-vessel systems must hold 55 °C for three consecutive days. The evidence is the temperature record — which is exactly what tends to be incomplete when it lives on a clipboard.

How PileProof records it

• Crews log temperatures from a phone, offline if the yard has no signal, against the specific batch.
• Each batch's PFRP status is recalculated on every reading, using a compliance profile you can point at California's thresholds.
• A missed day or a cold reading flags the batch AT RISK the same day, in the app and in a daily email digest.
• Certificates, activity reports and a full audit binder export on demand, with the raw data behind them.

PileProof is a record-keeping tool, not legal advice. Verify report formats and thresholds with your state agency and permit.