Protocol hailed as major step forward for composting

The protocol has just been issued by the two organisations and is out for consultation until the beginning of December. Both WRAP and the Agency see it as a major breakthrough in raising the status of compost.

” Businesses will no longer have to class the compost they produce as waste. This reduces the need to comply with waste regulations. “
– Tricia Henton, Environment Agency For producers to deliver what the organisations call “quality compost” four key criteria have to be met. These refer to input materials, the use of a standard throughout the process – including outputs – and that the “quality compost” is used in designated market sectors.

Use of the Quality Protocol would mean composting businesses would no longer have to class the compost they produce as “waste” and face the strict environmental controls needed for wastes.

The Quality Protocol is aimed at compost producers, users, regulators and trade organisations and sets out control procedures for the production and use of quality compost from source segregated biowaste like food and garden plant waste, said a statement from WRAP and the EA.

It is one of 10 quality protocols being developed for the waste and recycling sector.

Tricia Henton, the Environment Agency’s director of environment protection said:
“The aim is that by following standards in the Quality Protocol for Compost, businesses will no longer have to class the compost they produce as waste. This reduces the need to comply with waste regulations, helping to reduce costs without compromising the environment we are here to protect.”

Aims
The Quality Protocol for compost aims to:

• Provide users with confidence that the compost they buy meets agreed quality standards comparable with those of composts made from materials of a non-waste origin;
• Protect the environment (including soil) and human health – by setting standards for the use of quality compost on land;
• Ease regulatory burden – by defining when the compost ceases to be waste and no longer needs to be subject to regulatory control.

The Protocol will seek to achieve these aims by requiring composters to inspect every load of input material as well as the finished product and gain certification each year to the industry standard for compost production, PAS 100. Composters will also have to demonstrate that they have a market for the material within the sectors designated within the protocol.

The 12-week consultation will be managed primarily online, although a workshop will also be held early in October for those who wish to provide their feedback face-to-face.

The final version of the Protocol is expected to be produced in Spring 2007. The Agency will then review and update the document in January 2008 and biennially.

“Production increase”
WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – said it believed the Quality Protocol would lead to an increase in compost production, as well as financial benefits for compost producers.

WRAP's director of organics, Richard Swannell, commented: “It is likely to help the composting industry save over 1.20 for each tonne of compost they produce. At present over 2.5m tonnes of compost is produced by the industry each year. We believe that once the Quality Protocol has been adopted, there will be an increase in the amount of quality compost being produced.”

Association
The Composting Association has been involved in lobbying for re-classification of waste for many years and championed the waste versus product as it is an issue of great concern and uncertainty for their members.

Up until now composters who are attempting to sell their product in a marketplace against materials which hadn't been recycled need to justify their place on the market however the Quality protocol will mean composters are on an even footing.

Jane Gilbert, chief executive of the Composting Association commented “We are extremely happy to see progress on the important issue of compost quality. Our members are concerned about this issue and we are pleased to see that there is movement at last. This has had a negative impact on our members’ businesses and created uncertainty which has stopped the composting industry from developing to its full potential.”