International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

Due to the large number of countries that currently implement standards relating to
BTPs, Table 36-1 summarises which countries apply which standard
measures/restrictions as part of their policy on BTP production; the section is then
broken down into a summary of country-specific characteristics for each of the
measures that form part of the overall compost standard. Two key reports have been
used in order to summarise policies related to compost quality worldwide. 694 695
Additional references are provided throughout the document.
Feedstocks
The ABPR limits the materials that can be used in composting and biogas plants.
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� Category 1 materials cannot be dealt with in composting or biogas plants;
� Category 2 materials can be dealt with in composting or biogas plants if they
are treated in a particular manner as identified in Article 13. Manure, digestive
tract content separated from the digestive tract, milk and colostrums can be
treated in composting and biogas plants in accordance with Articles 15 and
18;
� Category 3 materials can be dealt with in composting and biogas plants in a
manner consistent with Article 15. Catering waste which is not of international
origin can be dealt with in biogas and composting plants in line with rules of
national origin until rules are established under Article 33(2). This is an
important exemption which most Member States have chosen to use to their
advantage.
Following on from these general guidelines, the majority of European countries have
drawn up a positive list of materials that can be included as input materials, rather
than listing which materials are excluded. In setting feedstock requirements, it can be
expected that the resultant compost is more likely to consistently achieve the desired
quality. In theory, this list should be different for composting plants compared to
biogas plants, as biogas plants can accept wetter materials such as grease-trap fats.
However in reality, such a split only exists in Austria, where a number of specified
materials, such as rendered fats and glycerine residues, are restricted to anaerobic
digestion plants. 696 Within the EU (plus Switzerland), 16 countries currently have
statutory standards for those feedstock materials that can be used for BTPs, and a
further 2 countries (Sweden and the United Kingdom) have voluntary standards. The
most prominent waste groups excluded from the production of BTPs are municipal
sewage sludge, mixed (not source-separated) municipal solid waste, paunch and
manure. Source-separated MSW, in particular, is seen by a number of countries as a
694 D. Hogg, J. Barth, E. Favoino, M. Centemero, V. Caimi, F. Amlinger, W. Devliegher, W. Brinton and S.
Antler (2002). Comparison of Compost Standards Within the EU, North America and Australasia.
Report for the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
695 D. Hogg, D. Lister, J. Barth, E. Favoino and F. Amlinger (2009) Frameworks for Use of Compost in
Agriculture in Europe, Final report for WRAP, January 2009
http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/Eunomia_compost_in_agriculture_final_report.703534d2.6993.
pdf .
696 Communication with Josef Barth (Informa Organic Waste Consultants, Germany) 07/07/2008.
29/09/09