Agency to tackle confusion over composting protocol

The pledge came as delegates at the Composting Association annual conference in Brighton expressed disquiet as to exactly who will police the new treatment code, and how it will be carried out.

” We are intending to provide a regulatory clarity paper when the Quality protocol is published. “
– Nina Sweet, Environment Agency
The new protocol, which has just completed a 12-week consultation (see letsrecycle.com story), will be published in February and could be in use by the composting sector later in 2007.

Those who are certified under the protocol should see legal waste controls relaxed for material deemed to be fully composted.

But there was confusion at the sector's annual conference on Wednesday about how any abuse of the system will be prevented.

WRAP, which has been developing the protocol based on its PAS 100 composting standard, insisted that the system would be fully transparent regarding who is accredited and who is not.

And, responding to concerns from members of the audience, including Dr John Mullett of Cambridge Recycling Services and one of the conference chairs, Essex county councillor Kay Twitchen, the Agency's composting policy officer, Nina Sweet, confirmed that guidance was being prepared on the protocol's regulation.

Ms Sweet said: “We are intending to provide a regulatory clarity paper when the Quality protocol is published.”

Standard
Composters will only be eligible for accreditation under the protocol if they meet a recognised treatment standard – with WRAP's PAS 100 standard the only recognised standard at present.

Those that do meet the terms will have composted material classed as a “product” rather than a “waste”, meaning a waste management licence or exemption would not be needed to store or handle the material.

Dr Richard Swannell, WRAP's director of organics, said that there would be no “additional fee” for the Quality Protocol since composters above and beyond the standard costs for certification to the PAS 100 standard (around 980) and the annual audit fee (180).

Dr Swannell said he hoped that that the protocol would “reduce the red tape” for composters and produce an opportunity for more sustainable growth in the sector.

Training for the industry regarding the protocol is also set to be rolled out next year, with internet-based tools being proposed to make auditing easy for anyone that gets involved in the protocol, from composting specialists to farmers.

This would be particularly important since agriculture has been identified by WRAP as a significant “accessible” market for composted material that can be exploited by composters.