OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Some new state standards on composting are in the works.

The Washington state Department of Ecology wants to hear from the public on a rule that would look to limit the amount of contamination in compost.

The department wants to get ahead what they expect will be a great increase in compostable materials over the next decade. According to a 2025 report on composting in the state, we may see nearly four times the amount of material collected for composting by 2035. The report recommends ramping up operations for composting to account for this.

Last year, the City of Bellingham implemented mandatory compost bins for single-family households and large-volume businesses.

Non-compostable materials include a variety of items, but the focus is on plastics and other inorganic items.

The draft rule creates a universal limit of 5% by volume physical contamination for feedstock. Anything above that percent will need to be preprocessed, which the draft rule also establishes standards for.

Film plastic contamination also can’t exceed 0.1% under the proposed rule.

Ecology is offering the public the chance to comment online, by mail or through two public hearings, on August 5 and 6.

Public comment is open through Aug. 13.