Remade South East - Pioneering new markets for waste resources

Pioneering new markets for waste resources


	Ashford Construcion Recycling Project Launch 8am - 10.30am, 15/10/08, Singleton Environmental Centre, Ashford
	Business Link Kent: Environmental Events in Kent

What is green compost?
Green compost is made from organic material such as tree and shrub prunings and grass trimmings. It may also contain fruit, vegetable and other biodegradable materials from industrial sources. The composting process turns these waste products into a stable, odourless organic product that an be handled and stored easily for use in the agricultural and horticultural industries.

How is it made?
Organic material is collected and from commercial and municipal sources. Contaminants are removed and the material is then shredded and heaped into windrows.

During the first phase of composting the temperature within the heap will reach 55° as the microbes begin to decompose the readily biodegradable fraction. The material is turned regularly to ensure uniform decomposition and a stable end product. After 12 to 16 weeks the material is screened to remove any woody fragments which might not have broken down fully. The material is then ready for use.

What standards are there?
Composting is regulated by planning and licensing authorities and many composting companies follow quality assurance schemes through the Composting Association, HDRA and the Soil Association.

The composting process generates heat, which destroys weed seeds and plant pathogens. There are some plant diseases which may not be completely killed off by the process. However, biological activity within the composting material further assists disease kill by promoting the growth of beneficial microbes. Laboratory studies have shown that applications of green compost can effectively control many soil-borne plant diseases such as onion white rot, brassica club and black scurf in potatoes. These effects are now being evaluated in the field.

How can green compost be used?
There are many applications of green compost:

	As a soil improver on light and heavy soils
	As a mulch, particularly for shrubs and trees
	As a top dressing for turf
	In growing aids to reduce peat usage

Why use green compost?
Compost improves soil structure through the addition of organic matter and this is its single most important property. Applications of green compost improve the soil's ability to hold air and water, which in turn produces a suitable environment for root

growth. Compost improves soil fertility and encourages vigorous root growth. Nutrients tend to be released slowly, supporting plant growth for longer. Compost is also a source of essential trace elements, which can be lacking in chemical fertilisers.

Peat extraction is being curtailed in the UK due to the destruction of wildlife habitats and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Many trials have shown a 50/50 mix of green compost and peat can be used to grow plants successfully, particularly woody species like trees and species.

Green compost in Kent and Medway
Currently Kent and Medway generates over 300,000 tonnes of green compost a year. The material is collected from domestic households and local businesses and taken to a regional composting site. Once the material has fully degraded, it is sold back to domestic and commercial users.
Environmental trials begin in Kent and Medway during 2002 to look at the suppression of onion white rot on farmland. Compost from a locally derived source was applied to land at rates of 33 tonnes, 66 tonnes and 100 tonnes per hectare. The results of the trial will be available from Remade South East by the end of the year.

To find out about Remade South East’s WRAP composting trials please click here.

Compost/Organic Fact Sheet:
		-	Organic Fact Sheet 146kb (56k modem - 3 secs \| 512 kbps - 31 secs)