Composting

Composting, and in particular central composting, is an important component of Government policy for diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill, as required under the Landfill Directive. There is some controversy as to whether central composting is the best environmental option for the treatment of green wastes, though to meet Government Best Value Performance Standards, as currently defined, it is probably essential. There is now an accelerating movement towards the use of the In-vessel Composting (IVC) technique which under favourable circumstances allows the treatment of food wastes to statutory standards.

---

WIP - New Technologies Supporter Programme (11/02/2007)
The New Technologies Supporter Programme continues apace as waste disposal authorities move rapidly towards the making of important decisions on facility development, often associated with the private finance initiative (PFI) process. More...Zero percent waste growth on Merseyside by 2020 (18/11/2008)
The Merseyside Waste Partnership has updated its Waste Strategy for the area. More...Public supports food waste trials (17/09/2008)
Trials of separate food waste collections have proved to be a winner. More...Graphite Resources reaches financial closure on north-east autoclave plant (04/06/2008)
Graphite Resources Limited has reached financial close on its £50 million Derwenthaugh Ecoparc in Tyne and Wear. More...BSI PAS 100 compost to be used in Yorkshire commercial brownfield redevelopment (15/05/2008)
The site’s former use as a colliery and coking plant has left the soil devoid of nutrients and unable to support plant life. More...Financial closure of GMWDA's £3billion waste PFI contract put back to 6 June (08/05/2008)
GMWDA announced yesterday that agreement has been reached with Viridor Laing on all major commercial principles relating to its 25 year waste PFI contract More...First anniversary for Lancashire waste PFI contract (06/05/2008)
One year after financial close, the Lancashire waste PFI contract is well into its stride with good progress being made, according to Global Renewables. More...Agrivert in compost giveaway for Compost Awareness Week (01/05/2008)
Agrivert, in conjunction with Cherwell District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, is distributing free compost to the general public. More...West London composter to have largest 'in-vessel 'capacity in Europe (29/04/2008)
Eight compost production sites across the UK are reaping the financial rewards thanks to funding and business advice from WRAP. More...Anaerobic digestion quality protocol launched (08/04/2008)
The Quality Protocol for the production and use of quality outputs from Anaerobic Digestion has been launched this week. More...Ravenscraig is testing ground for PAS 100 quality compost (24/01/2008)
Scotland’s Ravenscraig site is WRAP’s latest “trailblazer project”. More...Agrivert loses Buckinghamshire preferred bidder status after planning appeal (11/01/2008)
Buckinghamshire Council announced on Tuesday that it is currently in talks with its reserve bidder with a view to awarding a contract for the design, build and operation of an In-Vessel Composting facility in the north of the County. More...Scottish Borders composting project sweeter than WINE (10/01/2008)
Over the last few years, the Scottish Executive has invested in a composting service by farmers in the Scottish Borders to good effect. More...Greenview Composting gets investment from Euro infrastructure fund (19/12/2007)
Greenview Composting Limited, a “UK market leader” in the provision of in-vessel composting solutions to the waste market, has been advised by LG the London based business law firm, in relation to an important investment in the company. More...Falkirk tackles food waste (22/11/2007)
Wasted food fills up landfill sites and adds to global warming according to Falkirk Council, as it sets to tackle the issue. More...Agrivert’s Ardley site gets WRAP capital support (20/11/2007)
WRAP Organics Capital Support has assisted leading organic waste recycling company, Agrivert, in the financing of a concrete pad at its Ardley green waste site, as well as a side turner. More...Scotland set to shatter 2008 recycling target (13/11/2007)
Scotland has almost reached its 2008 recycling a year in advance, according to figures published yesterday by SEPA. More...Step change in Greater Manchester recycling performance (22/10/2007)
‘Well done Greater Manchester’ says a report to the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) which was considered last Friday. More...Cotswold to slash amounts of waste landfilled (17/10/2007)
Cotswold District Council have voted overwhelmingly to introduce a new waste service which is aimed at reducing the amount of rubbish the District sends to landfill sites by an estimated 20%. This should reduce municipal wastes landfilled from 24000 to 19000 tonnes per year. More...Cory gains permission for Stanway Hall waste treatment facilities (16/10/2007)
Cory Environmental was recently granted planning consent by Essex County Council for two new sustainable waste management treatment plants at Stanway Hall Quarry, south west of Colchester. More...Wales heads for 40% recycling by 2010 (15/10/2007)
Welsh Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson welcomed figures for 2006-07 released last week. More...Confusion over biopolymers leads to WRAP statement (11/09/2007)
Most consumers are confused about the wide range of new materials emerging with ‘biodegradable’, ‘home compostable’, ‘compostable’ and ‘degradable’ labels being introduced in the UK as bags, pots, trays, films or bottle formats, according to new consumer research. More...Planning success for WRG in Wrexham (05/09/2007)
WRG has obtained planning permission for a new waste facility and for upgrades to existing facilities in Wrexham. More...WIPD Planning System Guidance published by Defra (31/08/2007)
New guidance intended to help provide the waste infrastructure required in England to meet obligations under the Landfill Directive, has been published by Defra. More...OU unveils community composting profile (29/08/2007)
This is the first time a comprehensive profile of the community composting sector has been obtained and published. More...Major increases in Viridor energy and compost production (13/08/2007)
Viridor has significantly increased green waste volumes composted and energy production in 2006-07. More...Smallest Scottish County excels in recycling (06/07/2007)
Scotland's smallest local authority is seen to be leading the way in the recycling field, according to data released by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. More...Need compost? Then look no further! (04/07/2007)
The WRAP website now offers a searchable compost suppliers directory. More...Major organisations commit to packaging reductions (19/06/2007)
Nine of the UK’s biggest brand owners and manufacturers have shown a strong commitment to reduce the amount of packaging waste that ends up in the household waste according to an announcement from WRAP. More...New food waste collection trials (01/06/2007)
Following hard on the heels of the release of the National Waste Strategy for England and a key report on biowastes published by WRAP, new food collection trials are to take place. More...Key report published on household biowastes (25/05/2007)
Timed to coincide with the issue of the national waste strategy, WRAP has published the final report from Eunomia on Managing Biowastes from Households in the UK. More...Weekly food waste collection for St Albans (24/05/2007)
In a move that may reflect the future nationally in waste collection, St Albans City and District Council has said that food waste will continue to be collected every week, even after the proposed introduction of an alternate week waste collection system in mid-2008. More...Gardeners urged to tackle climate change (09/05/2007)
A new survey has been carried out by WRAP’s Know Your Compost Campaign which shows gardeners believe they are seeing climate change. More...Compost producers celebrate industry growth (04/05/2007)
A WRAP study finds that 35 per cent of landscape professionals have increased their use of compost produced from recycled garden material by ten per cent or more More...Donarbon set for Cambridgeshire PFI contract (20/04/2007)
The Cambridge County Council Executive has given provisional approval for the 28-year Private Finance Initiative contract with Donarbon to deal with the Council’s residual wastes using the MBT process. More...Leicestershire compost used at Beckham towers (13/04/2007)
Leicestershire compost is reputed to be used by the Beckhams as well as finding a use at the Eden Project, Cornwall. More...A rose by any other name…. (11/04/2007)
Dancing on ice star, actress Gaynor Faye launches the Recycle Now Home Composting campaign for 2007 with a rosy pose(y). More...Mega roll out to 285000 homes in 6 weeks! (03/04/2007)
Brampton, Canada – The Region of Peel has launched its new Organics Recycling Program at the Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility in Brampton. More...Cambridgeshire approves Donarbon MBT facility (28/03/2007)
Cambridgeshire County Council has approved an application by Donarbon Limited to develop a modern technology mechanical biological treatment plant (MBT) at Waterbeach. More...New Quality Protocol for Compost to ensure sustainable production (19/03/2007)
A new initiative making it easier for businesses and industry to produce more compost and reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill has been launched by WRAP and the Environment Agency. More...Funding - £48m per year for Scottish waste treatment (14/03/2007)
The Scottish Executive has provisionally announced today, funding to double Scotland's current recycling rate and reduce reliance on landfill through an attack on residual wastes. More...Viridor-Laing consortium present Rochdale plant proposals (09/03/2007)
The site of the proposed Waithlands Waste Resource Centre is just over half a mile east of Rochdale town centre and north of the existing Household Waste Recycling Site. More...The future of High Heavens (09/03/2007)
Major improvements are in the pipeline for the High Heavens recycling facility in High Wycombe, in part to overcome odour problems. More...Commons to debate single London Waste Authority today (27/02/2007)
The Commons is due to debate amendments introduced by a group of MPs to establish a single waste authority for London to achieve a more sustainable approach to waste management that will place more emphasis on recycling and reduce the influence of incineration. More...Accord wins waste services within £80m Gloucester contract (20/02/2007)
Accord plc has been successful in winning a 15 year, £80m contract with Gloucester City Council. The partnership of company and authority has ambitious targets to make Gloucester one of the cleanest cities in the country. More...PFI new structure to aid £11 billion infrastructure investment. (09/02/2007)
Based on experience so far, a more streamlined process for applying to Defra for waste PFI credits has been announced today. More...New Technologies Supporter Programme continues apace (09/02/2007)
The New Technologies Supporter Programme (NTSP) continues apace as waste disposal authorities move rapidly towards the making of important decisions on facility development. More...Manchester to get combined MBT and AD to tackle residual wastes (08/02/2007)
The type of facilities required under the GMWDA record £3b PFI contract are being revealed in outline. More...Funding - Welsh municipal waste projects benefit by £1.1m (05/02/2007)
The Welsh assembly has allocated £1.1m to help improve the management of municipal wastes in Wales. The drive is to support the full implementation of the national waste strategy, Wise About Waste. More...New Chairman for Composting Association (news bite) (31/01/2007)
Peter Mills, Contracts Director at New Earth Solutions Ltd, was voted in by TCA Board, at the Association’s Annual General Meeting last week. More...Pyrolysis solution favourite for West of England. (30/01/2007)
The West of England councils have issued consultation documents as a first step in moves towards joint planning and joint municipal waste strategies. More...South Lakeland "rocket" to recycling success (26/01/2007)
South Lakeland is expecting a record year of recycling in 2007 – after seeing its figures rocket by millions during 2006. More...Norfolk plumps for MBT (25/01/2007)
Norfolk County Council's Residual Waste Treatment Project Board has selected Sustainable Resource Management (SRM) as preferred bidder in the County's PFI project. More...Upgraded £1.3m HWRC for Lincolnshire (24/01/2007)
WRG has unveiled a £1.3 million upgrade of the Boston Household Waste Recovery Centre on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council. The facility is bigger, more modern and more convenient for users. More...Cory applies for permission for Merseyside MBT plant (19/01/2007)
Cory has submitted a planning application to St Helens Council for a mechanical biological treatment facility (MBT) plant. More...Only 3 to 4 years landfill capacity for London and the East (12/01/2007)
Landfilling of waste materials is falling but newly available landfill capacity is not keeping pace with waste deposits according to the Environment Agency. More...Hertfordshire public consultation on waste strategy (11/01/2007)
The Hertfordshire Waste Partnership is consulting on its waste strategy so that it can take account of public opinion before it formalises the strategy. The results of the consultation process will be published in early summer. More...SEPA publishes 2004 waste data (08/01/2007)
SEPA has published its sixth annual Waste Data Digest for the 2004. Though this information is historic, SEPA makes a well presented report on overall waste management in Scotland for 2004 and is to be commended on the comprehensive nature of the report. More...Is poor waste management fuelling the rise of rats? (08/01/2007)
On Friday last, the Daily Mail picked up on a report by the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) on the growing rat population across the country, in an article headed 'Council greed fuelling rise of rats'. More...LGA wages War on Waste (08/01/2007)
The Local Government Association has launched its War on Waste campaign, as new figures are published that show that the UK is depositing more waste into landfill than other European countries. More...Directgov online guide to sustainable living includes waste issues (02/01/2007)
Defra has launched a new online guide to greener living on the government's main public website, Directgov. More...Veolia pledge money for Xmas tree recycling (22/12/2006)
Recycle your Christmas Tree for Charity More...DEFRA and Recycle Now - Christmas advice (22/12/2006)
Christmas advice and stats from DEFRA and Recycle Now More...Recycling report kept under WRAPs (22/12/2006)
In a BBC radio interview this morning, Jennie Price, Chief Executive of WRAP revealed that a new report on recycling will be released shortly. The report is said to demonstrate that recycling is saving millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. More...Compostable car doors soon (21/12/2006)
The UK is on its way to developing car doors, boat hulls and baby capsules manufactured from super-strong, light-weight plastic made from plant products, which harmlessly biodegrades at the end of its life according to the DTI. More...Veolia almost there with East Sussex composting facility (21/12/2006)
Construction and operation of an enclosed composting facility including ancillary infrastructure, visitor centre and woodchipping facility More...Justifiably proud at North Kesteven (20/12/2006)
North Kesteven District Council is justifiably proud of topping the national league table for recycling. The District is the only area in the country to recycle over 50% of its waste. More...Two-thirds of English authorities hit recycling targets (15/12/2006)
Sixty-six percent of local authorities have met or exceeded their Best Value targets for 2005/6. More...Wastes management key to sustainable homes (14/12/2006)
Waste management is a key element of the new Code for Sustainable Homes during the design and construction phase but also in the operational phase. More...NFU Scotland claims victory in composting waste exemptions (08/12/2006)
NFU Scotland has secured an important win in relation to biobed and composting regulations within the Waste Management Licensing system. More...Forum set up on controversial Lancashire waste plant (08/12/2006)
A forum of local residents and representatives from the county council, set up to discuss the issues surrounding the Farington Waste Plant.... More...Success in Zero Waste Week for Bath and Somerset (05/12/2006)
An innovative experiment to see whether it is possible to go for a week without throwing anything away has been declared a success. More...Scottish recyclables go to waste (04/12/2006)
Around 40,000 tonnes of recyclable materials were wasted in Scotland last year due to contamination by householders.... More...Scarborough approach on green wastes makes sense (27/11/2006)
In further development of the Scarborough recycling service the council is to issue wheeled bins to its residents, but with a small financial input required from them. The bins are to be issued to those people already on kerbside collection rounds. More...Northumberland to sign 28 year 'green vision' contract with Sita UK (22/11/2006)
Northumberland County Council has agreed to sign up to what it considers to be a 28 year 'green vision' aimed at recycling nearly half the county’s waste. More...Re-launch of Defra New Technologies Supporter training course (21/11/2006)
The original Defra New Technologies Supporter training course was introduced in September 2005. A course will be held in East Midlands on 30 January -1 February 2007. More...England easily achieves 2005/06 LATS allowance (20/11/2006)
England has made a good start towards meeting its first tough EU targets of sending less biodegradable waste (cardboard, garden and food waste) to landfill. More...Energy from waste loses out in Cumbria (20/11/2006)
Cumbria County Council chooses Shanks as it move towards a 25-year, £400million PFI contract based on MBT More...Cory hold public exhibition on Stanway Hall Quarry (16/11/2006)
Cory Environmental has held a Public Exhibition to showcase its new plans for the Stanway Hall Quarry site, Warren Lane, south-west of Colchester. More...Residents to mount legal challenge to Leyland waste technology park (16/11/2006)
Residents of Leyland Lancashire are to challenge the decision by Lancashire County Council earlier this month to allow the development of an important waste park at Leyland, Lancashire. More...New initiative to help local authorities meet Landfill Directive Targets (09/11/2006)
DEFRA have introduced a new support programme to help local authorities to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The initiative will be as part of the existing Waste Implementation Programme (WIP). More...WRAP boosts UK composting capacity (08/11/2006)
The Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) is set to increase composting capacity in the UK by 50,000 tonne per year. More...Firm fined for using untreated waste in community woodland planting project (08/11/2006)
A company pleaded guilty today at Ayr Sheriff Court to disposing of untreated waste between May and October 2004. More...Application for massive Cheshire Resource Recovery Park rejected (07/11/2006)
Cheshire Planners have rejected outline planning permission for the development of a major Resource Recovery Park at Ince Marches. More...Lancashire CC approve Leyland waste technology park (03/11/2006)
Protesters packed the council offices at Preston to hear the debate on the proposed Farington waste technology park, but were disappointed when consent was given by the Planning Committee. More...The Re3 council partnership in Berkshire sign up to £600m PFI with WRG (01/11/2006)
Re3, a partnership of Berkshire Councils, has signed up with Waste Recycling Group(WRG)to deliver the new waste strategy of the Partnership. More...WRAP case study site, Battersea Reach, nominated for national award (27/10/2006)
Battersea Reach was nominated for best sustainability innovation for waste recycling and tidal planting, at the annual awards organised by LABC - the national organisation for building control services. More...State of Composting Report issued for 2004-05 (24/10/2006)
Composting is playing a key and improving role in increasing the amount of waste recovered, according to the a report issued by the Composting Association. More...Bucks to investigate two residual waste technologies (20/10/2006)
Buckinghamshire County Council has taken one step closer to deciding on a preferred solution to manage the 275,000 tonnes of household wastes arising every year. More...English WDAs meet LATS limits - provisionally (12/10/2006)
According to an interim statement from DEFRA, all waste disposal authorities in England have successfully met their LATS limits for the first year of the Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme. More...What colour our bins? (01/10/2006)
Are container colours causing confusion for householders? More...New Earth Solutions awarded 5 year Bournemouth contract (news in brief) (27/09/2006)
New Earth Solutions have been awarded a 5 year, £7.5 million contract from Bournemouth Council for treatment of residual waste More...Work starts on Biffa's Etwall IVC facility with WRAP's support (25/09/2006)
Work has begun in Etwall, Derbyshire on a £3million project for the construction of a new in-vessel composting facility for Biffa Waste Services. More...Room for improvement in organic waste management in Ireland (22/09/2006)
A report on the Management of Household Waste in Ireland was launched yesterday (Thursday) by the Joint Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government. More...Donarbon recommended to be Cambridgeshire Preferred Bidder (21/09/2006)
A recommendation is being made to the Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet that local company Donarbon Limited should be handed Preferred Bidder status for a long term contract to help reduce Cambridgeshire’s growing waste problem. More...South Beds aims for place in top performers (18/09/2006)
South Beds aims to be among England's top performing waste recyclers and is introducing alternate weekly collections through Verdant. More...Could waste disposal units solve the food waste problem? (news in brief) (14/09/2006)
According to In-Sink-Erator UK a cost effective, simple way to increase household recycling rates and reduce the amount of municipal waste going to landfill, is the food waste disposer. More...Compost industry says Government consultation is welcome (13/09/2006)
The compost industry has welcomed the recent consultation on the draft protocol on compost quality. The aim of the protocol is to enable controlled production of compost that, as an end product will no longer be considered as a waste. More...Welsh local authorities meet strict Assembly limits on landfilling "compostable" waste. (08/09/2006)
Figures announced today reveal that every local authority in Wales has met strict Assembly limits on the amount of compostable waste they are allowed to send to landfill sites. More...Peterborough achieve a 45 % recycling and composting rate in first 3 months. (07/09/2006)
Residents in Peterborough have been praised by Council officials for recycling 45 per cent of their household waste making them one of the best recycling Authorities in the UK. But there is some discontent over weekly collections of residuals. More...Yorwaste composting trial at Thorpe Willoughby refused. (31/08/2006)
North Yorkshire County Council's planning and regulatory functions committee voted earlier this week to refuse planning permission for a municipal waste composting trial at Gateforth Park Farm, Gateforth, near the village of Thorpe Willoughby, Selby district. More...Yorwaste apply for trial compost facility near Selby (29/08/2006)
Yorwaste has applied to the North Yorkshire County Council for planning consent to operate a compost plant at Thorpe Willoughby near Selby and the Planning Committee is due to consider this application today (Tuesday 29 Sept 06) More...A million compost bins delivered under WRAP scheme (23/08/2006)
The one millionth compost bin has been delivered this week and Recycle Now Compost at Home and Waste Aware Scotland have celebrated the milestone with Big Brother’s Lea at Trafalgar Square. The scheme backed by WRAP, has saved a predicted 400,000 tonnes of kitchen and garden waste going to landfill. More...Wirral want more garden recycling please! (21/08/2006)
Wirral residents are doing well with their garden recycling and to help and increase quantities, Wirral Council are swapping the existing white garden waste bag with a bigger and more convenient brown wheeled bin. More...TEG Environmental complete contract with Banham Compost (12/07/2006)
TEG has signed a £1.7 million contract with Banham Compost, a subsidiary of Banham Poultry Ltd, for an In-vessel Composting Facility (IVC) at the Carlton Rode site in Norfolk. More...Norfolk considers 'Plan B' (news in brief) (10/07/2006)
Norfolk needs two further waste-treatment plants in addition to the controversial incinerator scheme at Costessey on the outskirts of Norwich according to EDP24. More...