Just 36% of composted waste generates sales value

The amount of material composted increased by 20% between 2001/2 and 2003/04 and development of the on-farm composting sector led to a 49% increase in the number of composting facilities, highlighted the report.

” This growth needs to be complemented by the development of large-scale facilities that are able to treat more difficult and greater quantities of feedstocks“
– Jane Gilbert, Composting Association

It also found that only a small portion of the estimated seven million tonnes of household green waste was composted and that six million tonnes of kitchen waste remained largely untapped.

Higher-value


The State of Composting in the UK 2003/2004 revealed that 1.97 million tonnes of material was processed at 325 composting facilities. However, only just over a third of this went to higher-value end markets such as horticulture, landscaping and domestic gardening.

With around 40% of product going to agriculture land, this was the largest and fastest growing outlet for compost. The use of compost in landfill engineering fell by 18% from 2002/02, but when combined with land restoration it made up 24% of the market for compost.

Commenting on the results, Anne O&#39B;rien, head of organics at the Waste and Resources Action Programme, said: “The growth in the use of compost in agriculture is extremely encouraging.

Long-term

“But as this is often a &#39f;ree of charge' outlet, we must continue to work hard to develop a range of sales opportunities for composters to enhance the long term commercial viability of the industry.”

Other findings in the report were that of the 1.97 million tonnes of waste composted, 73% was household waste, 4% municipal non-household waste and 23% commercial waste.

Jane Gilbert, chief executive of the Composting said: “The report shows a considerable growth in small, dispersed facilities during 2003/04, which are beneficial as they enable the treatment of waste near to where it is produced.

“This growth needs to be complemented by the development of large-scale facilities that are able to treat more difficult and greater quantities of feedstocks,” she added.

The CA said that quality assurance of composted products continued to grow as an important element of compost production. Over 850,000 tonnes of material, complied with at least one independently certified standard in 2003/04.