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BSI PAS 100 & QPC

PAS 100 - A Quality Standard for Compost

It is coming apparent to central government that many local authorities are claiming green waste to land schemes as "recycling".

"Councils will no longer be able to count green waste which is given minimal treatment towards their recycling and composting targets following a clarification by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs" *

Practices such as Spread and Shred there fore will no longer be counted within recycling declarations.

A move is there fore a foot by compost producers to move from producing a waste, to a product. But what do you need to do in order to change waste to a product . . . you need PAS 100 and QPC (Compost Quality Protocol)

How does PAS 100 Change things?

PAS 100 alone is not enough to certify your compost as a product (unless you are based in Scotland). You must also be inline with the Quality Protocol for Compost  (QPC ).

Both of these systems aim to make the production of compost:

So by using PAS 100 you can ensure that your compost will be safe for use as a product, and that its quality will be consistent. It also means that end users do not have to have waste permits to receive the compost, as PAS 100 & QPC certified compost is no longer classed as a waste.

bracken_down_compost
PAS 100 Compost
Somerset
07968 791 623

 

 

 

 

What do I need to change to implement PAS 100?

Image result for wikimedia compost
Crystalclear [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

If you looking to become certified for the first time there are a number of changes that may need to be implemented, some examples:

Why do I need to Change to implement PAS 100 or QPC ?

If you currently supply the local authorities with a composting service and you are no composting to produce a "product" then maybe a competitor with PAS100 / QPC will be a more favourable option, especially as LA's hands are being forced from legislative change.

How does PAS 100 work?

PAS 100 is a free standard, that you can download from the BSI website, it is in effect a rule book on how to compost, if you follow these rules, then your product can be sold as a product (you need QPC also).

PAS 100 applies science to composting, you will be required to monitor temperatures and moisture content more often than you might at the moment to make sure your compost is reaching the required temperatures during the sanitation phase, and the maturation phase.

This control of the composting process that confirms to PAS 100 can be achieved with various systems, manual or otherwise.

The chain of custody must be very carefully monitored through out the composting process, deliveries are grouped together to for batches which must be kept as a "batch" through out the composting process, to ensure that PAS 100 standard is met.

PAS 100 stipulates that during the composting process, temperature must not stray out side of given values, or that particular batch will not meet the PAS 100 standard.

On completion of the validation / maturation phase the batch records of PAS 100 compost must be maintained through to the sales of compost to end users.

PAS 100 Compost should be fit for its intended end use, with different grades of compost being suitable of differing uses, for example compost destined for use as a soil conditioner, will have to be matured of 8 weeks before it is fit for use.

PAS 100 sounds complicated, who can help?

Southwest Environmental Limited can implement and mange your operations successful certification to PAS 100 and QCP. Please contact us of a free initial consultation. We are always happy to talk about PAS 100 compost.

PAS 100 Compost News

 

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* https://www.letsrecycle.com/