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. However the report considers that the Government needs to help the composting industry to increase available capacity for the UK is to meet its landfill diversion targets under the Landfill Directive.
The report, The State of Composting and Biological Waste Treatment in the UK 2004/05, indicates that composting across the UK grew robustly, increasing from 1.97 million tonnes (Mt) in 2003/04 to 2.67 Mt in 2004/05, representing a 35% increase.
Chief Executive's comment
Jane Gilbert, Chief Executive of the Composting Association commented:
"We are extremely pleased to see the positive progress the composting industry has made over the last few years. Our members work in a difficult environment but thanks to the findings of this survey we have a better understanding of where they stand at the moment. Composters will be able to use the results of this survey to demonstrate to both the Government and to the wider public that they make a positive contribution to both the economy and the environment.
She continued, "There is still, however, room for development. The survey shows that there is going to be a major capacity shortfall for composting in the UK, especially for the in-vessel plants needed to treat catering waste. Unless a number of new facilities are built soon, this country will not be able to meet the binding targets set for it by the EU Landfill Directive. We would call on the Government to take a good look at the work being done in this area, to support composters who want to build new sites and to help existing composters who want to expand their operations."
Report authors and funders
M.E.L. Ltd produced the report for the Composting Association which was funded by the Environment Agency and WRAP. The report confirms the important place that composting holds in the national system of sustainable waste management.
The report considers that the composting industry is doing good work in transforming organic wastes into marketable products that can benefit the environment. There are a number of routes by which this effect occurs, such as reducing the loss of soil organic matter on farms, creating top soils for use in construction projects, regenerating brownfield sites, reducing the consumption of peat in horticultural growing media, or through the generation of biogas to create a renewable energy source. WRAP's work to help compost producers and grow markets for compost products is supported by the report findings.