Composting And Quality Assurance In Germany

Composting and QualityAssurance in GermanyPart 2: Quality Assurance forCompost and DigestateDr. Stefanie SiebertBundesgütegemeinschaft Kompost e.V.

Development of the QASThe RAL quality assurance for compost wasestablished in Germany in 1991.The RAL quality assurance for digestate residuals wasestablished in 2000. Revision in 2007.The RAL quality assurance for sewage sludge compostwas established in 2003.

RAL Quality Compost and DigestateProducts in GermanyCompost products (RAL-GZ 251): fresh compost mature compost compost for potting soilDigestate products from biowaste (RAL-GZ 245): solid and liquid digestatesDigestate products from renewable energy crops(RAL-GZ 246): solid and liquid digestatesComposted sludge products (RAL-GZ 258): sludge-based mature compost sludge-based fresh compost

State of Quality Assurance in GermanyRAL-GZ 251427 plantsRAL-GZ 24559 plantsRAL-GZ 2463 plantsRAL-GZ 25813 plants

Benefits of BGK Quality assurance system (QAS) Product standards Legal safety Information service Local consideration

Benefits of participation in BGK QAS QAS ProduktStandards Legalsafety Conferringof quality labels Regulations forquality andexamination Monitoring of legis- Journal „Humus& KomPost“lation regulations Organisationof QAS Documentationand certificates ZAS (centralevaluation station) Product declaration(i.e. for fertilizerregulations) Influence onproduct standards Assistance withthe realisations Representation ofthe concerns ofpractice Questions ofproduct liability Coordination of HBPS (hygiene modular market demands Qualification ofconstruction system ) Continuing progression raw materials Lab recognition, Statistical examinations Certificates formethods bookauthorities InformationService RegionalConsideration Localconsiderations Applicationrecommendationsand advertisingmaterial formembers Authoritycontacts Consideration ininvidual cases Special events Contact forinstitutes, administration etc. Expert questions Internet presence Exchange ofexperience Representationof special localconcerns

Targets of quality assurance Specification of products with a guaranteed homogenousquality Enhancement of product quality and operation quality Guarantee for a successful use of the products Deregulation and recognition of certified products by legalauthorities, in agricultural systems and by food processingindustry Promotion of the re-use of waste "from waste to product"

Advantages of Quality AssuranceWithout Quality Assurance§§BioAbfVBioAbfV§§With Quality harmlessnessUnbedenklichkeit § 3Hygienic harmlessnessGehalte ofAmountanheavySchwermetallenmetals§4Amount of heavy metalsVorgaben zurApplicationrequirementsAnwendung §§ 6, 7, 8Application �9Official controlBehördlicheKontrolle §§ 3, 4Nachweise derDocumentedevidenceVerwertungof utilization§ 11 § 11§3§4§§ 6, 7, 8

Application Areas of BGK QAS Implementation of the RAL- quality assurance systems Information for operators and production plants On-site inspection and consultation by an independentquality manager Recognition of test laboratories (implementation of ringtests) Recognition of sample taker (courses for sample taking) Elaboration of application requirements for good praticaluse

Contents of Quality Assurance SystemProcess requirements and suitable inputmaterialsIndependent analysis and declaration of theproduct qualityDocumentation and application requirements

Composting / DigestionPlantMember of Quality AssuranceOrganisation (BGK)Sample TakerQuality CommitteeAcknowledgedLaboratorycontrol, sanctions, measuresQuality AssuranceOrganisationcentral data base

Quality CommitteeWaste liser ticulture andlandscapinggMunicipal vateproducersTesting laboratoryResearchMunicipal and privat labsAgricultureHygiene, production,utilization

Course of Quality Assurance System2-Step Quality Assurance SystemRecognition ProcedureSupervision Proceduresinglecontinuous

Contents of Quality Assurance SystemSuitable Input Materials in accordance with the biowaste ordinance and fertiliser regulation. operation control by plant visits of independent quality managers. control by independent sample takers and by declaration in analysis report.Independent analysis and declaration of the product quality 4 - 12 times a year according to the quality guidelines, depends on theamount of input material. control and sanctions by an independent quality committee. certification with product declaration according to the fertiliser regulationApplication requirements application requirements based on the biowaste ordinance and fertiliserregulation. application requirements due to good practical use.

Recognition of LaboratoriesQualification possibilities for laboratories1. Inter-laboratory trial organised by BGK2. Participation at another inter-laboratorytrial which is accepted by BGK3. Single qualification

Sample Taking and Analysis According to the methods book of the BGK Accomplishment only by the ordered andrecognised lab Independancy and education of the sample taker Samples have to supply a representative sample Samples must only be taken from goods readyfor sale

Documentation and Record System Analysis recordsAnalysis results of one batch Quality certificateResults and evaluation of analysis of the last year Documentation overviewSummary report of all analysis results for the operator andthe quality assurance committee for control and sanctions

Analysis reportPage 1 Name of compostingor digestation plant Name of laboratory Name of sample taker Type of Product Grain size Proof of temperatureprotocoll Date of sampling

Analysis reportPage 2Analysis results: Physical parameter Biological parameter Chemical parameter Plant nutrients Soil improvingparameters Heavy metals

Analysis reportPage 3Declaration and conformitysheet: Conformity proof of legislation Declaration according to theFertiliser Ordinance Input materials Fit for purpose Application requirements Nutrient amount Fertilising calculation Hygienic proof

Documanteatin of the Analysis ResultsDocumentation of Analysis Results

Documentation of Analysis Results Data and facts of the compost plant Products and their proportion Demonstration of the median values Recording of missing examinations Recording of labs defaults (delayedreports) Designation of exceeded values Designation of implausible values Quarterly overview of the analysis results Document for producers for internal survey Document for quality committeefor external survey

Annual Report Documentation of the concrete quality attributes Product declaration for fertiliser regulations Accordance with current legislations andregulations Median values of valuable ingredients andthe spectrum of the expected variance (tolerance) Calculation base for fertilization account andcounselling Application recommendations for horticulture,agriculture and landscaping

Annual reportQuality assurance systemLegal conformityProduct declarationFurther specifications

Application RecommendationsApplication recommendations are based on the analysis results of thelast year and are included in the annual quality certificate.Contents of the Annual Quality Certificate Product type Agreement with legislation and specific regulation (water retention areas) Declaration according to fertiliser regulation Quality criteria and analysis results with variation range Calculation of application rate and application recommendationsaccording to good practical use

Certification Document

Process Requirements for CompostingPlantsare characterised by suitable input materials, operation conditions for sanitization(55 C for two weeks or 65 C (60 C inclosed plants) for one week, hygiene model type system (HBPS), good plant management(reduction of odour emissions,effective separation of impurities).is proved by regular plant inspections.

Product Analysis of Compost Productsfor Recognition and MonitoringInput Amount (t/a) 2.000 2.001Recognitionprocedures46 6.0018 12.00112Monitoring procedures 8000 t input materialper year4 analysis 8.000 t input materialone analysis for every2.000 t input materialper year but asmaximum 12analysis per year

Differentiation of the RAL quality forDigestate ProductsRAL-quality digestate productsInput materialsBiowasteorganic municipal waste, residues fromthe food and animal feed industryRelevantLegislationBiowaste Ordinance(BioAbfV)EG-VO 1774/2002(TierNebV)Renewable Energy CropsManureEG-VO 1774/2002(TierNebV)Fertiliser legislation

Process Requirements andInput Materials for DigestationInput materialsProcessrequirementsBiowaste from separatecollected organic municipalwaste, residues from thefood and animal feedindustryRenewable energy crops,Manure, slurry, dung, strawSanitization at 70 C for atleast 1 h or thermophilicfermentation at 55 for24 h and a dwell time of 20daysTreatment at 37 C for adwell time of 20 daysSalmonella not traceableSalmonella not traceable operation control by plant visits of independent quality managers control by independent sample takers and by declaration in analysis report

Product Analysis of Digestate Residuesfor Recognition and MonitoringQuality label/Quality assuranceDigestate productfrom biowaste(RAL-GZ 245)Digestate product fromrenewable energycrops(RAL-GZ 246)Recognition proceduresMonitoring proceduresone analysis for every1.500 t inputmaterial per yearone analysis for every2.000 t input material peryearmin. 4, max. 12 per yearmin. 4, max. 12 per yearone analysis for every1.500 t inputmaterial per yearone analysis for every8.000 t input material peryearmin. 4, max. 8 per yearmin. 2, max. 4 per year

Product qualityValuable criteria Decomposition degree (compost) Degree of fermentation (digestate) Bulk density pH-value, salt content Plant nutrients Carbonats Organic matter content Plant responsePrecautionary environmentalcriteria Hygienic aspects (salmonellae) Viable weeds and plant parts Impurities Potential toxic substances(heavy metals) Degree of pollution (visiblecontent of impurities)

Product Quality – valuable criteriaQuality criteriaParameterCompostfresh / matureDigestatesolid / liquidOrganic matterLoss on ignition [M. %] 30 / 15 30 / 40Dry matterDry matter [M.-%] 55 15 / 15NutrientsNt,P2O5,K2O,MgO, S [% / dm]DeclarationDeclarationAlkaline effectivematterCaO [% / dm]DeclarationDeclarationNitrogen solubleNH4-N NO3-N [mg/lFM]DeclarationDeclarationSalt contentSalt content [g/l onDeclarationRotting degree /Fermentation degree C /Organic acids [mg/l]60 – 40,1 / 40- 4000

Precautionary Environmental CriteriaParameterLimit valueImpurities 2 mm [% dm] 0.5Degree of pollution [cm2 / l FM] 25Pb [mg /kg dm]150Cd [mg /kg dm]1.5Cr [mg /kg dm]100Ni [mg /kg dm]50Cu [mg /kg dm]100Zn [mg /kg dm]400Hg [mg /kg dm]1.0Viable seeds and sproutingplant parts2 seeds / lRemarkOnly determinable, if impuritycontent exceed 0.1 M.-%If the content of Cu and Zn isreferred to manure etc.,plausible higher values indigestate are allowed.

Compost from Biodegradable WasteCurrently about 50 % of German householdsare involved in the separate collection ofbiowaste (bio-bins/bio-containers).Approximately 8 million tons of biowaste aretreated in 800 composting plants to produce5 million tons of compost.70 % of the produced compost is labelledwith the quality label RAL-GZ 251

Composting and Digestion PlantsProduction plants in the QualityAssurance SystemComposting plants427Digestion plants62

Compost and Digestate Products in 2007Input amounts in 2007t/aRAL-GZ 251Compost5.933.510RAL-GZ 245Digestate productfrom biowaste1.716.000RAL-GZ 246Digestate product fromrenewable energy plant144.000

Compost Quality – valuable criteriaParameterAverage of 2006Average of 2007OMLOI [%]38.939.1Nt [% / dm]1.391.40P2O5 [% / dm]0.660.67K2O [% / dm]1.161.15MgOt [% / dm]0.710.70CaO [% / dm]4.083.80NH4-N NO3-N [mg/l FM]255242Salt content [gl FM]4.624.64pH-value7.607.60