New regulation cuts the crap in compost

Consumers can have confidence in the quality of composted mulches and composted soil conditioners following the launch of the Compost Products Certification Brand on Wednesday May 9 at the Royal Melbourne Zoo, as part of International Compost Awareness Week, May 6 -12.

Under the new scheme, set to hit the Australian market in August, individual compost and mulch products will be certified to ensure they meet a set of quality assured criteria guaranteeing the standard of compost.

“Building on the existing Australian Standards, the scheme will enable users to identify quality compost products that are specifically designed to meet their requirements,” said national projects manager, Compost Australia, Angus Johnston.

Participating products will be independently certified through a process requiring strict and fully documented quality management systems for compost production; registration of application-specific products; independent auditing of composting processes; and laboratory testing of compost products.

Compost is well known to deliver a range of outcomes including saving water, improving soil health, reducing fertiliser use, improving plant yield, reducing weeds, reducing soil erosion, improving plant appearance and improving nutritional balance.

“Until now the recycled organics industry has been distracted by the important challenge of getting organic materials out of landfill,” Johnston said. “In this new paradigm, product demand will drive recycling and the environmental benefits that go along with it.”

Certified Products will carry a distinctive leaf logo as pictured above. Products verified by SAI Global will carry the 5 Ticks StandardsMark.

Industry overview The recycled organics industry converts organic wastes into products that add carbon, nutrients and life to depleted soils. The industry is crucial in helping all levels of government across Australia divert organic wastes from landfill.

Nationally 160 businesses processes more than five million tonnes of organic wastes producing a variety of mulches, soil conditioners, manufactured soils and even some fuel and energy products. Conservative estimates of organic waste to be recovered nationally put the figure at 10 million tonnes per annum.

The recycled organics industry also delivers environmental benefits associated with the diversion of waste from landfill and the application of recycled organic products to land. An independent study has conservatively estimated the environmental value of compost derived from garden organics is at $114 per tonne. This includes both avoided landfill emissions ($82.53) and application benefits ($40.50). A separate life cycle inventory and assessment for windrow composting systems undertaken in 2003 found significant environmental benefits arising from commercial composting of organics and application of compost to agriculture, even where composts are transported up to 600km.

Certifying application specific products The Compost Supply Chain Roadmap, a recycled organics industry development strategy, has identified the need to address end-user needs and promote the idea of different quality products. It is essential that end users understand that compost is a product designed with their specific applications in mind, rather than a treated waste needing disposal. The new certification scheme and Leaf Brand will effectively link certified products with defined market requirements, and allow specific market segments to find the Recycled Organic product specifically designed to meet their needs.

Product Branding The SAI Global Five-Ticks Brand used under the existing StandardsMark product certification scheme is widely recognised and accepted in Australia, with many certified manufacturers using it extensively, particularly on bagged product and promotional literature. There is a desire within the Recycled Organic Industry to continue to use this established brand. However, in order to distinguish between broad product categories (for each market segment) it will be necessary to introduce a separate Industry owned brand and labelling guidelines. Since many of the potential new market segments are bulk markets (no bags) there will also be an alternative branding method introduced to expose the brands and associated product information to the customer. It is crucial to link industry wide market education to the act of purchasing the product, thereby increasing brand recognition and sales of certified product over time.

Relationship to Australian Standards

The new compost certification scheme will continue to use the Australian Standard for Composts, Soil Conditioners and Mulches (AS4454), developed through Standards Australia, as the benchmark for product quality. In order to create products that meet end user needs, AS4454 is being revised in parallel with the development of the new certification scheme. Compost products will be audited to the revised AS4454, independently certified by SAI Global and sold under the Five-Ticks and Leaf branding as quality, application specific products.

Product and Manufacturer Differentiation

Both the compost manufacturers and compost users benefit from increased levels of product certification. Poor quality compost products that are not designed for specific applications can cause damage a customer's business and more broadly reduce customer confidence, undermining attempts to expand into new market segments. Quality manufacturers and their products must be separated from inferior, poorly designed composts in the eyes of the consumer. The Recycled Organics Industry intends to bring as many compost manufacturers up to standard as possible and, at the same time, differentiate themselves from those manufactures who dump poor quality product into the market. The new Certification and associated Leaf Brand provide a mechanism for the Industry to achieve this goal.

For further information contact:

Angus Johnston, Compost Australia, 02 8746 5088, angus@wmaa.asn.au