The Environmental Management and Protection (Saskatchewan Environmental Code Adoption) Amendment Regulations, 2025, brings updates to Saskatchewan’s framework for managing compost facilities. These amendments revise the Appendix to the existing regulations by adding a new Compost Facility Chapter, which outlines requirements applicable to owners and operators of composting sites across the province. The chapter is designed to ensure environmental protection, compliance monitoring, and proper closure of compost facilities, reflecting the province’s commitment to sustainable waste management practices under The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010.

The new regulations apply broadly to any individual or entity owning or planning to establish a compost facility, but exclude small-scale or low-risk composting activities such as backyard composting, composting at community gardens with on-site materials, agricultural composting on the same property where materials are generated, composting within fully enclosed vessels, and materials regulated under other statutes or directives from the minister. This targeted application ensures that larger, potentially more impactful composting operations meet stringent standards without overburdening small-scale or exempt operations.

Compliance obligations vary based on the scale of the composting operation. Facilities composting 15,000 tonnes or more of feedstock or amendments annually must comply with both Parts 1 and 2 of the chapter, while smaller facilities composting under this threshold can comply with Part 1 and choose between Part 2 or the less rigorous Part 3. Owners are required to notify the minister when establishing or operating a compost facility, using forms determined by the ministry, and must provide any additional information requested. A notification number is assigned, which must be included on all relevant documentation, facilitating oversight and traceability.

The chapter also defines who qualifies as a “qualified person” to certify critical environmental documents and reports. This designation includes licensed engineers, professional geoscientists, practicing agrologists, and applied science technologists with appropriate experience, as well as individuals or classes designated by the minister.

Compost facilities are classified as waste management works for regulatory purposes, triggering specific obligations related to environmental sampling and laboratory analysis. Environmental samples must be collected, preserved, and analyzed following approved methods by accredited laboratories or certified qualified persons to maintain data integrity and accuracy.

Only feedstock and amendments listed in the approved Compost Facilities Acceptable Feedstock and Amendment Standard may be used in composting, unless special ministerial approval is granted. This ensures consistency and safety in inputs, minimizing risks of contamination or environmental harm.

Saskatchewan (36/2025) May 23, 2025
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and do not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.