Bridging the gap: linking research into the performance and characterisation of organic wastes in land-based applications to current technical and policy needs

Date:  July 21st 2006

Venue:  School of Horticulture and Landscape, University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, UK.

As a range of practical and policy imperatives force a radical rethink of waste management strategies across the UK, a variety of methods of dealing with mixed waste are coming to prominence, including incineration, digestion and composting via a range of methods collectively classified as Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT), which fall outside the remit of the PAS100 compost guidelines. Concerns over the quality of non-PAS100 outputs and their capacity to cause harm have to some extent overridden their beneficial capacities, which potentially lend themselves to a range of viable applications.

The workshop introduces a range of projects investigating the quality and performance of PAS100-excluded composts from a variety of MBT plant operational in the UK. Early results will be presented and there will be an opportunity to discuss these findings in syndicate groups considering both practical applications and policy issues.  The findings of these groups will be applied to the future work of the projects taking part.

Speakers will include members of a University of Reading and r3 project team (with three talks on a second consultation report for a market review of “non-PAS100” composts, which will be released at the workshop; evaluation of compost like outputs: soil physical properties, potentially toxic elements and plant available nutrients; and growth of trees in waste-derived composts).  Other speakers will include Andy Godley (WRc) - Organic waste characterisation for treatment, recycling to land and landfilling, and Phil Wallace (Enviros) Benefits and constraints of compost use in agriculture within an emerging regulatory framework.

The workshop is run by r3 Environmental Technology Ltd, the University of Reading and CIWM. For further details and registration information please contact Jane Cosford of IWM Business Services (e-mail: jane.cosford@ciwm.co.uk).

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