Regional agency underlines benefits of local composting

As Compost Awareness Week continues this week (see letsrecycle.com story), the market development organisation is using a project in Selby to highlight the role of localised, on-farm composting facilities in diverting material from landfill.

” On-farm and local composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases recycling rates. “
– Matt Hill, Recycling Action Yorkshire
The project is currently processing about 7,000 tonnes of garden waste collected from 20,000 homes each year – and as it does so, comparing the use of local or on-farm composting facilities to large, centralised treatment facilities for green waste.

RAY believes local authorities would have cost savings for processing and transport by using local facilities, and that such projects would also be to the benefit of local jobs, investment and the agricultural sector.

The project is also showing how garden waste collected from homes can be shredded, composted and used to improve soil structure, fertility and reduce soil erosion.

Climate change
Researchers from consultancy Urban Mines are also looking into the impact on climate change, and for the Selby project they have calculated the site is reducing green-house gas emissions by about 5,400 tonnes each year.

It is hoped to extend the Selby project to collect green waste from all 32,500 households in the district. RAY said lessons learned from the project could lead to similar local or on-farm composting projects set up throughout the region.

RAY organics project manager Matt Hill said: “This project highlights an opportunity for the Yorkshire and Humber region. On-farm and local composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases recycling rates, and Selby District Council has combined this with the opportunity to support local businesses and jobs for the local rural economy.

Related links:

Recycling Action Yorkshire Compost Awareness Week

Mr Hill added: “There are challenging targets ahead for the region and the UK as a whole, so it is important that we increase the region’s composting capacity urgently.”

To help meet European Landfill Directive targets, local authorities in Yorkshire and Humberside will have to divert 640,000 tonnes of organic material from landfill by 2010.

Earlier this month, research from RAY suggested the region had a “land bank” of around 900,000 hectares available for using compost made from green waste (see letsrecycle.com story).