Southwest Environmental Limited

Implementation of PAS100 and CQP

It is becoming more and more common in the UK for composters to have a PAS100 certified process. There are a number of reasons for this. SWEL have considerable experience in the implementation of quality management systems such as PAS100 with regard to composting. Compost vs Artificial Fertilizers

Non PAS100 (& CQP) compost is still classed as a waste, and therefore there is further legislative requirements for its onward journey from your composting facility, this will require land spreading mobile plant permits, or alternative. For example a local farmer may wish to take some of your compost, but in order for him to legally receive it you will have to have a spreading permit, and a deployment authorization from the EA, relating to his land. With PAS100 & CQP this rigmarole can be avoided

PAS 100 certification is gained by putting in place a management system to control, document, and verify that your composting process in turning out quality stuff. Inputs to a PAS100 system are carefully recorded, and a thorough paper trail must be maintained linking input materials, the selection process maintained, and waste types to the "batches" of compost that are formed. Each load to site may be inspected for problem materials such as plastics or Japanese knot weed. "Batches" of compost are monitored throughout the PAS 100 process to ensure correct temperatures and moisture levels are maintained, this ensure eradication of pathogens and living plant tissue. Export, once materials have been composted there export from site is also documented according to PAS100, this ensures that from arrival on site to spreading / bagging the compost is traceable back to it source. More on PAS100 Environmental Permitting Image: liz west [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Knot Weed