Livestock carcasses: disposal: composting.

Assembly Member Papan's livestock composting legislation creates a framework for California farmers to compost routine livestock mortalities and on-farm processing remains on their agricultural properties. The measure permits composting of livestock carcasses when conducted according to best management practices established jointly by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, and State Water Resources Control Board.

The bill establishes specific operational parameters for livestock composting. Total composting material, including carcasses, must not exceed 100 cubic yards at any time. All material must originate from agricultural sites owned or leased by the carcass owner, and composting must occur either on the same property or, if conducted elsewhere, within the same county or an adjacent county. The resulting compost must be applied to agricultural land owned or leased by the carcass owner. Operators must notify local enforcement agencies within 30 days of beginning composting operations.

The measure excludes certain livestock mortalities from composting eligibility, including animals euthanized with barbiturates, those that died from reportable diseases, and deaths occurring in quarantined locations. These provisions maintain existing public health and safety protocols while providing farmers an on-site option for managing routine livestock mortalities through controlled composting practices.