Compost can be certified to the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 100 and the Compost Quality Protocol. When approved under these standards compost is no longer considered waste and is therefore not liable to the same restrictions and financial penalties as waste material.

This is important because it makes the product far more marketable and allows for certified compost to be spread on land without the need for Environment Agency spreading licenses or deployments.

Compost complying with PAS 100 but not complying with the Compost Quality Protocol will still be considered a waste and relevant laws and controls will apply to its handling, transport and application. This applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in Scotland PAS 100 alone may be sufficient, for the full position in Scotland consult SEPA.

Composters complying with PAS 100 can use REAL’s Quality Mark. This assists buyers in determining a product that is safe, reliable and produced in line with the key requirements of the standard.

Purchasing compost accredited to PAS 100 and the Compost Quality Protocol assures the user that the compost conforms to a recognised and approved standard designed to protect the environment (including soil) and human health.

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To find out more please contact OF&G at 01939 291800 or write to us at info@ofgorganic.org