The standard is used widely by composters across the UK as a minimum benchmarch for composted products.
At the Composting Association's annual event earlier this month, Martin Brocklehurst, head of waste strategy at the Agency, talked about a new voluntary organics protocol being worked on by WRAP, the Agency and Defra, while dismissing PAS 100 as just a “marketing tool”. (see letsrecycle.com story)
” PAS 100 provides regulators with a strong baseline from which to regulate consistently, as has been demonstrated by SEPA“
– Jennie Price, chief executive, WRAP
He said: “My colleagues and I cannot guarantee the level of contaminants, such as metals, are safe in PAS 100 material – it is only a marketing label, we need a protocol for organics.”
Jennie Price, WRAP's chief executive has now told letsrecycle.com that she has written to Tricia Henton, the Agency's director of environmental protection, over the comments.
Regulation
She said: “Far more than a marketing tool, PAS 100 ensures that material is of a specific quality and consistency, and is produced by an accredited producer. It provides regulators with a strong baseline from which to regulate consistently, as has been demonstrated by SEPA's willingness to consider compost produced in accordance with PAS 100 as a clearly defined product.”
She added that WRAP had worked hard with The Composting Association and the BSI to introduce the PAS, which has provided the composting industry and end markets with a clear baseline standard and a strong position from which to build greater confidence in composted products.
New protocols
Mrs Price said the Waste and Resources Action Programme is seeking clarification of the Agency's views, particularly in the light of the joint work it will be undertaking with the Agency to accelerate progress on a number of new voluntary quality protocols.
These 10 protocols, due to come out over the next year, will be aimed at giving clear definitions of the level of processing required for certain waste materials to no longer be considered 'waste' under the European Waste Framework Directive.
The first protocol to be worked on is organics and it is hoped the protocols will help influence European debate on the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste.
Mrs Price pressed: “It is important that we get this clarity so that we can move forward with the urgent task of developing quality protocols and improving the ability of the composting and other recycling industries to play their part in the material recovery needed to meet our European Directive challenges.”
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