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HB235 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COMPOSTING.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COMPOSTING.

Agriculture
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bush
Last action
2025-06-30
Official status
House Agriculture 6/30/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee but has not yet passed the full legislature or become law as of the provided date (2025-06-30).

HB235: Allowing Commercial Composting on Agricultural Land

This bill allows commercial composting of yard waste, food scraps, and other organic materials on land zoned for farming.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the diversion and composting of yard waste, food residuals, and other organic materials for commercial purposes on properties zoned for agricultural use.
  • Requires that county or local governments allow at least 5,000 square feet per 4 acres of property for this activity, though they may set limits above this amount.
  • Gives the Department of Agriculture the authority to create regulations regarding these composting activities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Owners or operators of properties zoned for agricultural purposes
  • County and local governments that regulate land use
  • The Delaware Department of Agriculture

Terms To Know

Composting
Turning organic materials like food scraps or yard waste into soil-like material.
Agricultural purposes
Land that is officially zoned for farming activities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Local governments can set limits on the size of composting areas, but they cannot go below the minimum space required by this law.
  • The specific rules about how to operate a commercial compost site are not in this bill and will be written later by the Department of Agriculture.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-30 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Agriculture Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COMPOSTING.
This Act allows for the composting of yard waste, food residuals and other organic materials on property zoned for agricultural purposes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Bush & Sen. Hoffner

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 235

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO COMPOSTING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Title 3 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 108. Composting.

(a) The diversion and composting of yard waste, food residuals, and other organic materials for commercial purposes shall be allowed on properties zoned for agricultural purposes.

(b) County and local governments may limit the square footage for such use but shall allow for no less than 5000 sq ft. per 4 acres of property.

(c) The Department of Agriculture may create regulations for the purposes of this section.

SYNOPSIS

This Act allows for the composting of yard waste, food residuals and other organic materials on property zoned for agricultural purposes.