Ian Sweatman, business development manager for WRG South East, said: “We’re seeing a marked growth in the demand for composted green waste. New benefits and applications are constantly being identified and that has generated a major business opportunity for Waste Recycling.”
 Ian Sweatman with some WRG compost |
The growth in demand has been caused by both the government’s focus on developing brownfield sites and the planning restrictions it has placed on greenfield development – which have led to a “dramatic” increase in topsoil prices – say WRG.
Economic
A 1998 government report described brownfield as “any land that has been previously developed” and recommended that maximising its economic use was a good way to reduce the loss of greenfield sites and make a wider contribution to improving life in towns and cities.
The company’s “soil improving compost” made from green garden waste has been used in the reclamation of brownfield sites such as shopping centres, airports and roadside verges. In addition, sales of the compost to the public at 2.50 for a 40 litre bag have doubled since last spring.
Topsoil
The compost can be used in either “restoration” or “soil blending” projects. Restoration projects mix compost into existing soil on site to produce blended topsoil. With soil blending, a contractor off-site mixes compost with subsoil to produce a topsoil that is sold to business park or shopping centre developers.
WRG claims that green waste compost is particularly useful in brownfield site restoration because it contains organisms that can break down contaminants and has a high humus content which may help to prevent metal leaching.
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