Managing Cannabis Waste During Missouri’s Harvest Season
Harvest season brings a significant increase in cannabis waste, requiring greater attention to how material is secured, documented, and disposed of. The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) requires cannabis waste to be rendered unusable by a licensed agent, destroyed on camera, documented through compliant manifests, and transported to a licensed disposal site.
Deficiencies are more likely to occur during the harvest season if systems are not in place.
Not All Waste Is the Same
Cannabis plant waste varies by material type, and those differences affect how waste must be processed during harvest.
Fan leaves and foliage are less dense, allowing them to be processed more quickly and efficiently.
Stems and stalks are dense, fibrous plant material that require longer shredding times to become unusable and unrecognizable.
Mixed harvest waste can slow shredding throughput and extend the amount of time waste must remain secured and monitored.
Storage Requirements Before Destruction
Before destruction, cannabis waste must be stored in a designated, secure waste storage area. During harvest, storage areas must be continuously monitored by cameras, restrict unauthorized access, and sized to accommodate peak waste volumes.
Waste that overflows designated containers or is staged outside approved storage areas creates compliance issues. Properly sized receptacles keep waste fully contained and allow shredding to occur before storage limits are reached. Facilities must also have enough space to safely operate industrial shredding equipment.
Harvest Introduces Elevated Safety Risks
Harvest activity increases the likelihood that non-organic materials enter cannabis waste streams, including trimming shears, metal S-hooks used for trellising, and cultivation hardware such as wires and clips. Separation protocols are required to prevent equipment damage, protect workers from injury, and avoid unplanned downtime.
Agent IDs and Manifests
Cannabis waste must be handled by a waste provider operating under a valid Agent ID. Each destruction event must be documented using a cannabis waste manifest that records generator information, waste type and quantity, and the date, time, and method of destruction, along with transport and disposal destinations.
Manifests must be retained for the required recordkeeping period and made readily available for inspection.
What a Good Cannabis Waste Partner Provides
A qualified cannabis waste service will be equipped to manage increased volumes, meet regulatory requirements, and support safe, documented destruction from start to finish. The team will need:
Valid Agent IDs and regulatory fluency
Harvest-season capacity and scheduling flexibility
Industrial equipment designed for dense plant material
To keep accurate waste manifests
Access to licensed disposal and composting facilities
A compliant, sustainability-forward approach
That’s where Monarch Waste Co. comes in. Monarch is built to support the operations of licensed cannabis facilities. With our regulatory expertise, industrial-grade equipment, and documented disposal pathways, we help licensees stay compliant during peak production periods.
Team Up With Monarch Waste Co.
Ensuring your cannabis waste is disposed of properly is made easy with Monarch Waste Co. We are dedicated to helping you navigate complexities with our comprehensive services, ensuring your operations remain compliant, sustainable, and thriving. Contact us today to schedule your initial consult and see how we can make our services work for you!