The organisation will be investing 700,000 over a two-year period to conduct the projects.
It hopes to expand the market for quality compost in the restoration of previously developed “brownfield” land, and has a target of delivering the use of 100,000 tonnes of compost by March 2008.
WRAP is looking for partnerships to demonstrate the potential applications for quality compost which may include:
- landscaping;
- soil manufacture;
- remediation; and
- growing biofuels to produce a sustainable fuel.
Earlier this month, WRAP released a report 'Restoring the land with compost' which highlighted a number of difficulties in the brownfield sector regarding the use of compost. These included a low general awareness of the benefits and applications of compost, a need to boost confidence in product quality and consistency.
Awareness
WRAP said that raising awareness through case studies is the key to increasing the brownfield sector's confidence in using compost made from waste.
Maggie Newton, WRAP's marketing and awareness manager said: “There are many challenges within the brownfield sector – in particular getting people to see compost as a product rather than waste.”
They will be independently monitored and progress will be reported throughout the trials.
The trailblazer projects are just one way WRAP is tackling these problems. WRAP is currently working with the Environment Agency to create a quality protocol for compost which is set to be completed in August this year.
For more information and a full Tender Invitation Document see the WRAP website: http://www.wrap.org.uk/.
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