Agrivert, which specialises mainly in processing paper waste and sewage sludge for use on land, has begun talks with several local authorities about using concrete units for contained composting.
The concrete silos, made by German company Biodegma, consist of modules which can each compost about 250-280 cubic metres of organic waste at a time. These come with lids which Agrivert says would fulfil the likely imminent legislative need for an enclosed first stage for catering waste compost.
At a recent presentation to a collection of county and district councils, Agrivert's Tony Aris encouraged local authorities to invest in composting facilities that would satisfy likely forthcoming animal by-products legislation. “Local authorities must ensure their green waste composting systems can cope with the demands of dealing with animal by-products that will be inevitably found in kerbside collection waste,” he said.
And he claimed the system was both flexible, because new modules can be added as need demands, simple and safe: “The issue of employee health and safety and working environments is very important to the selection of any process that councils make and must take account of current and future legislation for the exposure to bio-aerosols and spores.”
A risk assessment commissioned by DEFRA and published in June 2002 recommended a “two barrier” process for composting waste that could contain animal by-products, such as kitchen or catering waste. This would consist of a first, “enclosed” stage, followed by a second stage which would not need to be enclosed. These opinions are likely to be reflected in imminent legislation on the composting of animal by-products which is due out in December 2002.
Subscribe for free