(1) Except for sewage sludge approved for long-term disposal in accordance with WAC 173-308-300(9), all biosolids (including septage) or sewage sludge must be treated by a process such as physical screening or another method to significantly remove manufactured inerts prior to final disposition. Meeting this requirement may occur at any point in the wastewater treatment or biosolids manufacturing process.

(2) Options for meeting the requirement. Meeting the requirement in subsection (1) of this section can be accomplished by either of the following:

(a) Screening through a bar screen with a maximum aperture of 3/8 inch (0.95 cm).

(b) Obtaining approval from the department for an alternative method that achieves a removal rate similar to or greater than that achieved by the screening standard in (a) of this subsection.

(3) Timing for meeting the requirement. The requirement in subsection (1) of this section must be met by July 1, 2012, or at the time of final disposition if the material will not be managed prior to July 1, 2012.

(4) Regardless of the date that the requirement in subsection (1) of this section is met, biosolids (including septage) that are land applied or sold/given away in a bag or other container must contain less than one percent by volume recognizable manufactured inerts.