DEFRA to issue statement on kitchen waste as confusion grows

Recycling officers have told letsrecycle that they are unsure whether they should continue to compost kitchen waste following the regulators announcement. But DEFRA is likely to tell them this afternoon to carry on collecting organic waste for composting and not to send it to landfill.

Michael Meacher emphasised yesterday that composting should be encouraged ahead of incineration and that it is needed to meet the waste strategy targets.

Jane Paynter, of Staffordshire County Council, said: “We are concerned about the current situation and that if we continue to compost kitchen waste with green waste from household waste recycling centres then it may all need to be landfilled if the guidelines are changed.”

And Neil Winship, of Alpheco Composting which uses in-vessel systems believes that the guidelines on composting will be revised. He said: “My understanding is that MAFF acknowledged that the view of DETR officials is that landfill is not a viable long term option for the disposal of household and food waste. So it seems probable that MAFF guidance, which stated that composting and biodigestion are not permitted disposal routes for animal by-products under the Animal By-Products Order will be revised.”

He added that The Animal By-Products Order does “not prohibit” composting catering wastes that include meat and fish residues “provided” that ruminant animals, pigs and poultry (including wild birds) cannot gain access to the waste until composting has converted the mixture into a safe product that complies with the appropriate standards.

Regulated
The Composting Association, in line with other composters, has accepted that composting needs to be regulated effectively and chief executive Jane Gilbert said: “It is with regret that this development has occurred and the Association is striving to resolve it as soon as possible. A meeting has been scheduled to take place on 11 July, and the Association will be arguing strongly the case for composting, provided that it is regulated effectively and carried out in an appropriate manner.”

Dr Gilbert added: “Depending upon the developments within the European Commission on the draft Regulation “Laying Down The Health Rules Concerning Animal By-Products Not Intended For Human Consumption”, composting of catering wastes may be permitted in the future. It appears, however, that this would mandate that catering wastes be composted in an enclosed system accompanied by stringent processing requirements.”

Charlie Trusdell, a composting expert, said: “In-vessel composting is the only viable solution for mixed food composting, however open windrow composting with an element of non-meat products should be perfectly safe, and certainly safer than landfill. It is nonsense to say food including meat is not suitable for composting, the composting process will kill the vast majority of pathogens. It is recommended that for in-vessel composting there is a minimum retention time of one week with temperatures not less than 60 degrees C. This is sufficient time/temperature to be safe.”

He added: “Composting carried out properly is without doubt one of the best and more sustainable methods of dealing with a significant element of the waste stream.”