Final Report for the ERTDI-funded project: 2006-WRM-DS-26
Summary: STRIVE Report 22 - M. Prasad & P. Foster
The purpose of this project is to offer a quality standard for compost derived from source-separated biodegradable materials in order to promote the development of markets for compost-based products on the island of Ireland as well as to protect human, plant, soil and animal health. Other EU countries with an established composting infrastructure show that successful biowaste treatment must include meeting quality standards in order to control the use and guarantee the environmental safety of compost application within agricultural, horticultural and landscaping industries, by home gardeners and local authorities. The establishment of an industry-based compost standard supports the long-term growth of the industry and ensures product satisfaction to maintain consumer confidence. The market development process will lead to the overall expansion of the composting industry in Ireland by developing other means of revenue generation apart from gate fees. This, in turn, contributes to developing a sustainable compost industry, that can effectively compete on a cost basis with other waste management technologies, and disposal facilities such as mechanical biological treatment (MBT), incineration and/or landfilling.
