Scotland trials set to investigate new applications for quality compost

The Waste & Resources Action Programme has launched a new series of Scottish trials designed to understand how quality compost can be used in a variety of applications. WRAP hopes the trials will develop new markets for quality compost and help shape policy and practice across the UK. The trials are being conducted by Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Agricultural College in partnership with WRAP and are designed to determine the commercial benefits of using quality applications that range from soil improvement through to the establishment of woodland and biomass crops on brownfield land.

Due to run throughout 2009 and end in 2010/11, the trials will make use of green compost and food-derived compost both produced to the BSI PAS 100 specification.

One of the trials will take place on the completed Dalquhandy Opencast Site in Lanarkshire, where Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Coal will investigate the use of quality compost in the establishment of sustainable woodland.

Forestry Commission Scotland spokesman Michael Wall said: “Transforming a completed opencast site back into woodland and helping to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere makes a lot of sense, we are keen to see how the use of quality compost could help us achieve this goal.”

WRAP director for Scotland Iain Gulland said: “These latest trials will bring about an even greater understanding of quality compost – and illustrate to those tasked with managing landscaping and regeneration projects that they can make cost savings and still work in an environmentally sustainable way.”