International Compost Alliance launched

Launching on World Soil Day, the Alliance will work to “maximise” the recycling of organic waste and raise awareness of the benefits composting.

It includes the UK’s Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA).

The Alliance will “pool expertise and knowledge” in order to come up with “positive solutions for climate change mitigation”.

According to the Alliance, despite organics recycling being an “affordable and proven solution” to fighting climate change and methane emission reduction goals, it remains an “underutilised and undervalued technology”.

The Alliance will also focus on collaboration and joint initiatives, with the potential for international research.

Alongside the REA, the founding members of this global alliance include:

• The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA)
• Compost Council of Canada (CCC)
• European Compost Network (ECN)
• International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
• CRÉ – Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Association of Ireland
• WasteMINZ (Waste Management Institute of New Zealand)
• The United States Composting Council (USCC)
•  The Compost Research & Education Foundation (CREF).

Membership is open to any organisation which “aligns with the Alliance’s vision”.

‘Win-win’

In a joint statement, the International Compost Alliance said: “Compost is a win-win solution to climate change – not only does recycling organic wastes reduce emissions, compost also brings many benefits when used on soils too. This is why we have joined forces to work together to maximise the recycling of organic wastes and advance the manufacturing of certified, high-quality composts to benefit the environment, society and our members.

“We hope the International Compost Alliance helps usher in a new era of global collaboration on this issue, to ensure that compost, and its role in soil health and food security, is central to the efforts in tackling climate change.”