Compost project aims to break horticulture market

Nurseries and horticultural organisations across the UK are to carry out 20 trials covering a range of crop types and growing media formulations as part of what WRAP said was a move “to increase market confidence and awareness concerning the benefits of using composted materials”.

Accessible

Special projects manager for WRAP Anne O&#39B;rien said of the “major” programme: “By funding these trials and making the results accessible to everyone in the horticultural industry through technical reports and workshops, we hope to demonstrate that recycled materials can meet the performance criteria required by commercial growers, retailers and other users.”

Mrs O&#39B;rien said she could not reveal exactly how much funding was being provided for the scheme because of commercial considerations for the contractor. But she would say the investment was “significant”.

The project will be managed by Peatering Out and steered by an advisory group made up of the Growing Media Association (GMA), the Composting Association and the British Bedding and Pot Plants Association.

The trials will run from May to November 2003. In each, three formulations of growing media will be tested: a peat free formulation of composted green waste and bark or wood; a reduced-peat mix of green waste compost, bark or wood
and peat; and a standard peat-based formulation used by the nurseries. The composts used in the trial will all come from producers who have achieved or are working towards the Composting Association's quality standard.

Key

WRAP said: “Horticulture has been identified as a key market for composted products as a more sustainable alternative to peat. However, while a considerable degree of substitution has occurred in the landscaping sector, there is still a lack of confidence in using recycled materials in growing media.”

The trials will be supplemented by a desk study aimed at increasing awareness of potential benefits of compost. This will bring together the results of existing research and show how compost has better nutrients and drainage, WRAP said.

The results of the trials will be publicised through free workshops being held at the sites over the summer. See the letsrecycle.com events page for more information.