The pressure on composting facilities is increasing
Organic waste and composting operations have always produced emissions. What has changed is the expectation around how those emissions are managed and documented.
State EPAs across Australia have strengthened guidance around odour and emissions management at organics facilities. Expectations vary by jurisdiction and licence conditions, but the direction of travel is consistent: facilities need to demonstrate active, documented management of their emissions.
For many facilities, the missing piece is a continuous, multi-parameter system that can actually produce that record.
What composting facilities are actually required to monitor
Composting produces a range of airborne emissions that vary by process stage, feedstock type, season, and site conditions. The parameters below are commonly relevant to compliance and community impact, though specific monitoring requirements will depend on your EPA licence conditions and applicable state guidance.
- Particulate matter — Composting generates fine and coarse particles across a wide size range. PM2.5 and PM10 are the fractions most commonly referenced in air quality standards, but PM1 and total suspended particles are also relevant to health and nuisance assessments.
- Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) — A byproduct of organic matter decomposition, H2S is detectable by smell at concentrations well below those that cause health effects. It is one of the primary drivers of odour complaints from neighbouring communities and a focus of EPA odour management requirements.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — Released during active decomposition, VOCs are commonly included in monitoring or reporting where odour or emissions risk has been identified.
- Methane (CH4) — A natural byproduct of anaerobic decomposition, methane is a potent greenhouse gas. While continuous fenceline methane monitoring is not yet a uniform regulatory requirement at composting facilities, corporate reporting frameworks and state-level expectations are growing — particularly for larger operations.
- Sulphur dioxide (SO2) — Relevant where sulphur-containing feedstocks are processed, SO2 contributes to both air quality and odour concerns.
Why periodic monitoring is not enough
Manual sampling and periodic testing have been the standard approach at many facilities. The problem is that they produce a snapshot, not a record.
Regulators and auditors increasingly expect robust, auditable monitoring records. For higher-risk or odorous sites this is often satisfied by continuous, time-stamped data that demonstrates compliance over time — not just at the point a technician visited the site.
Composting emissions also spike. Turning events, wet weather, and changes in feedstock can cause short-term emissions increases that periodic sampling will never capture. Continuous monitoring does.
What Kunak monitoring looks like in practice
Kunak air quality monitoring stations are designed for exactly this kind of deployment — unattended, continuous, multi-parameter monitoring in industrial field conditions.
A single Kunak unit can simultaneously monitor particulate matter across multiple size fractions, H2S, VOCs, methane, and SO2, depending on the cartridge configuration selected. Stations connect to the Kunak AIR Cloud platform, providing real-time data access, automated reporting, threshold alerts, and a continuous compliance record accessible from anywhere.
Units can be deployed at the facility perimeter or near active processing areas, with placement guided by licence requirements and site conditions. The modular cartridge system means the sensor configuration can be adjusted as monitoring needs evolve.
For facilities already running temperature and hot spot monitoring on their composting process, Kunak adds the air quality layer that connects operational data with environmental performance.
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Local support and Australian context
OneTemp is the Australian distributor for Kunak air quality monitoring systems, technical support, and application expertise across Australia and New Zealand.
Deploying a monitoring system is not just a purchasing decision. It requires understanding the site, and the data requirements of the facility. Our team works with facility operators and environmental managers to configure monitoring that is fit for purpose from day one.
Ready to review your monitoring position?
If your facility is operating under EPA licence conditions or working through an environment protection obligation, it is worth understanding what continuous monitoring can and cannot demonstrate — before a complaint or audit makes that question urgent.
