Compost quality protocol - consultation

Consultation on the waste quality protocol

(Consultation starts 4 October 2006 and ends 4 December 2006)

The Environment Agency and WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) sought feedback from a wide range of stakeholders on various aspects of the quality protocol for the production and use of quality compost from source segregated biowaste with the aim of delivering a final protocol, which has full industry support and backing.

The consultation opened on 4 October 2006 and closed on 2 December 2006.

Th consultation was open to key stakeholders such as producers, end users, regulators, local authorities and the general public.

A total of 1169 people were directly invited to participate in the consultation.

Who responded?

481 people registered to participate and 149 submitted responses. Participants were from the following sectors.

Compost producer - 90 registered; 37 submitted response
Compost user/specifier - 34 registered; 11 submitted response
Consultant - 109 registered; 24 submitted response
Trade organisation - 24 registered; 12 submitted response
Other - 158 registered; 44 submitted response

Interpreting the results

The primary purpose of the consultation was to gather qualitative information - collecting ideas, arguments and views on the Quality Protocol.

The responses helped identify where there were common views, specific issues, general agreement or specific differences.

The Technical Advisory Group used these views to revise the Quality Protocol.

See the link on the right to read the consultees' responses.