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Document description
1. Title of publication

Belgian point of view regarding the end-of-waste criteria for compost

2. Responsable Publisher 3. Number of pages

Henny De Baets, OVAM, Stationsstraat 110, 2800 Mechelen

4. Legal deposit number

32

5. Number of tables and figures

D/2008/5024/16
6. Publication series

2 tables and 3 figures

7. Date of publication

Februari 2008
8. Key words

Biomass, composting, digestion, separate collection, end-of-waste criteria

9. Summary

In the present draft of the Frameworkdirective for Waste, European Commission has introduced a proposal to develop end-of-waste criteria for some wastestreams such as aggregates, metal scrap and compost. Regarding to compost, Belgium/OVAM has always been in favour for a Biowaste directive, also stimulating separate collection of biowaste. This document gives an overview of our arguments and vision, and also gives an overview of the courant situation in Flanders.
10. Supervision

Mieke De Schoenmakere, Vlaco vzw

11. Contact

Mieke De Schoenmakere (015/284.344)

12. Other publications about the same subject

The use of data from this document is allowed with acknowledgement. The document is published on the OVAM-website: www.ovam.be

Belgian point of view regarding the end-of-waste criteria for compost

Table of contents 1 2 3 Introduction on the Belgian situation _________________________ 4 Belgian point of view regarding the end-of-waste criteria for compost5 Overview of the Flemish situation ____________________________ 7
3.1 The Historical background and legislation of composting in Flanders7 3.2 Separate collection, composting plants, compost use and marketing: some figures ____________________________________________________ 7 3.3 3.4 Quality assurance of compost _______________________________ 11 Other legislation concerning compost _________________________ 17

4 5

Conclusions_____________________________________________ 18 Annexes________________________________________________ 19
5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Secondary raw materials ___________________________________ 19 Appendix 4.2.1. of the VLAREA _____________________________ 23 PARAMETERS ___________________________________________ 24 PARAMETERS ___________________________________________ 24

Introduction on the Belgian situation

In Belgium waste legislation is a competence of the Regions. Belgium has three regions: Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia. Looking to e.g. the density of the population and industrial activities there is quite a difference between the regions, which has a significant influence on the possibility to organise e.g. separate collection of biological waste. This is reflected in the current situation: for example, the Brussels region which is urban area, has no separate collection of vegetable-, fruit- and garden waste. This document gives an extensive overview of the situation in Flanders and is made in the Flemish region by OVAM (Public waste agency of Flanders) in close cooperation with Vlaco (Flemish compost organisation). The point of view on the end-of-waste criteria for compost although, is the Belgian point of view and is supported by the three regions.

Belgian point of view regarding the end-of-waste criteria for compost

Across Europe biowaste accounts for approximately 30 to 40% of municipal solid waste and is the largest household fraction. On a quantitative basis this equates to more than 100 million tonnes per year. Currently, this important soil resource is often wasted and landfilled together with municipal waste. Compost and fermentation residues derived from separately collected biowaste play an important role in the balance of organic matter in soils. Many areas in Europe have a low and in parts alarmingly low organic matter content. According to estimates, 45% of all soils in Europe are already affected by a negative balance of organic matter. In compensation for this deficit, biocompost and fermentation residues are especially suited. It can be expected that due to climate change and the resulting increase in extreme weather conditions, in combination with a growth in intensive plant production with decreasing animal husbandry, there will be a higher demand for organic matter. Through the separate collection of biowaste and its application as compost in agriculture, mineral fertilizers can be subsituted by 8% to 10%. Thus not only nonrenewable resources for plant nutrients (for example phosphorous) are saved, but also peat from upland moors. Moreover, the separate collection of biowaste and its composting or fermentation serves as applied climate protection. With good reason the EU Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC demands the gradual EU-wide diversion of biodegradable waste from landfills by 65%. In conventional landfills, biowaste is responsable for the formation of climate-relevant methane gas. In Europe, landfills, are a major source of methane emissions. With the extension of the separate collection of biowaste, an effective contribution to the reduction of methane emissions from landfills can therefore be achieved, thus supporting climate protection. The reduction of landfilling biodegradable waste by 65% in Europe 15 (EU 15) alone could save 74 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent gasses. Apart from that, there is a considerable reduction of CO2-emissions due to the replacement of mineral fertilizers which need to be produced in energy intensive processes based on fossil fuels. In March 2007, the workshop in Sevilla obviously showed that the EC no longer had the intention in coming back to the idea of working on a stand-alone Biowaste Directive. However, we are convinced that there are many reasons why only a stand-alone Biowaste Directive combined with clear standards is the good solution concerning the management of biowaste. It must be emphasized that the EP has strongly pleaded for the adoption of a legislative act in his vote in first reading in the revision of the waste framework directive and his resolution about the thematic strategy on soil protection. Commisioner Dimas himself has not closed the door to such an approach during the debate that was held on the ENVI Council on June 28th 2007. Member States and their administrations need a legal framework as a backup for initiatives in order to implement a sound management of biowaste and adding to soil protection. Please find below an overview and a description of the current situation in Flanders and how biological waste is managed.

A combination of separate collection of biowaste, quality-assurance-systems and defined standards leads to an exellent result: compost of excellent quality which helps us to deal with matters as obtaining the goals of the landfill directive.

Overview of the Flemish situation

3.1

The historical background and legislation of composting in Flanders

In the Flemish Region in the last two decades, the Public Waste Agency (OVAM) has given very active attention with regards to biowaste treatment, composting and sustainable use of compost. The Flemish waste management philosophy is built upon the principle of the Lansink ladder: prevention > recuperation > waste treatment for recycling > incineration > landfill. Separate collection has been in focus in Flanders from the early nineties. It is nowadays still important, but the focus has shifted towards prevention since the late 1990s. Flanders was one of the first EC member states to imply the landfill directive strategically. Whereas in the beginning compost was produced from mixed residual waste, with poor market opportunities and severe quality shortfall (chemical, physical, microbiological), gradually the quality of the produced compost has improved, not only due to preand post-treatment but rather because of strict acceptation rules. In the beginning, the product standards for compost as described in the VLAREA (Flemish Regulation on Waste Prevention and Management) (cfr. Annex 1) were rarely met. Separate collection initiatives in the Flemish Region have been very successful since then. In the early nineties, the municipalities and inter-municipal waste associations were obliged to implement the separate collection from households for either green waste or VFG waste (vegetable, fruit and garden waste). In that time, sorting analyses showed that about half of the residual waste consisted of an organic-biological fraction. Together with the setting up of systems for separate collection, the treatment plants were built in the early nineties. Further investments and efforts in separate collection and treatment of biowaste, driven by legislative rather than sheer economical aspects, resulted in new experiences and satisfactory results. Nowadays the composting plants in Flanders produce high quality compost in all cases fit as a soil improver and growing medium, in agriculture, horticulture, private households, landscaping, A key factor in the Flemish waste legislation is the non-dilution principle: composting plants can not be used as a solution for getting rid of polluted substances: only biowaste that fulfils the end product standards can be accepted as an input material. Furthermore the treatment of (bio)waste should not divert the problems to other environmental compartments. Closing the cycle for biowaste also implies proper use of the end product and a decent control system.

3.2

Separate collection, composting plants, compost use and marketing: some figures
In the Flemish waste legislation, different types of biowaste are described: a) green waste: separately collected compostable organic waste from private gardens, sport pitches, landscaping, parks, verge grass cutting, Green waste is obtained by door-to-door collection from households, or carried by civilians to municipal recycling parks, from where it is transported towards green composting plants. Green waste from landscaping, public parks, sport pitches, verge cutting, is presented at the gate of professional green waste composting plants. The input in green waste composting plants is limited to green waste by waste legislation.
7

b) VFG waste: separately collected Vegetable, Fruit and Garden waste from private households. In specific regions in the Flemish region, the door-todoor collection of VFG waste is carried out. There is a limitative list of inputs that are allowed to be a fraction of this VFG waste: the compostable fraction of catering waste from plant origin (potatoe peelings, vegetable and fruit leftovers, nut shells, coffee filters and content, ), small and soft garden waste (e.g. chopped prunings from shrubs and hedges, grass, leafs, weeds, ) as well as ornamental plants and sawdust. Not allowed are timber wood, unchopped wood, bones and animal (by-)products, nappies, soil, fat and oil, stove ashes, coal, plastics, metal, cans, c) industrial organic waste including industrial sludge: originating from industrial (food and feed), agricultural or scientific processes that can be of plant or animal origin. Expelled from professional composting plants for the production of fertilisers or soil improvers are sewage sludge, sludge from drinking water production, septic sludge,

These several types of waste (separate collection as a prerequisite) are clearly related to the definition of different compost types: green compost, VFG-compost and OBA-compost (compost produced with other inputs e.g. industrial biowaste or manure). However, the process of composting as an activity, meaning the autothermic and thermophilic biological decomposition in the presence of oxygen under controlled conditions, plays also an important role in the definition of the end product. Unstable and immature product resulting from an incomplete or suboptimal treatment process is not likely to be defined under the definition of compost. Therefore clear supervision of the treatment process (both internally and externally) and product testing is necessary. Compost cannot be produced from mixed municipal waste, even when proper posttreatment techniques should be available. Separate collection and treatment of both green waste and VFG waste have known a considerable growth since the introduction of separate collection in Flanders (Figure 1). In 2006 approximately 500.000 tonnes of green waste has been collected and treated into green compost. The collection and treatment of VFG waste was about 320.000 tonnes in 2006. The historical stocks of green waste from the past have also been straightened out. Since 2002, for the production of VFG-compost, a maximum of 25% co-treatment of industrial biowaste with VFGwaste is allowed when it is not causing negative involvement on the compost quality.

600.000

collection VFG waste collection green waste

500.000

treatment of VFG waste treatment of green waste treatment of industrial biowaste

400.000

300.000

200.000

100.000

0
19 89 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06

Figure 1: History of separate collection and biowaste treatment in Flanders In total in 2006, an amount of over 330.000 tonnes of compost was produced in Flanders. As far as the market of this compost is concerned (see Figure 2), over 94% of this compost is destined for local use (6% export). As supported by the waste legislation, local re-use is preferable. Only relatively small amounts of compost are used on agricultural soil (9%) which is mainly caused by the implementation of a strict nutrient regulation as an outcome of the Nitrates Directive. Quite some compost finds its way back to the households as it is used in private gardens.

6%

2%

13% 8%

landscaping public green private garden agriculture potting soil

34% 20% 8% 9%

wholesale export other

Figure 2: Marketing of Flemish compost from treated biowaste in 2006 In 2006 in the Flemish region, 35 professional composting plants accounted for the compost production with an average treatment capacity of 16.792 tonnes/year of green waste and 39.817 tonnes/year of VFG waste respectively. These treatment plants are more or less equally distributed over the surface of the Flemish region (Figure 3). About 8 other plants are producing OBA-compost or other types of fertiliser or soil improver based on other input than separately collected biowaste, of which some are digestion plants.

10

Figure 3: The professional composting plants in the Flemish region, 2006 Most of the 26 green composting plants are open windrow composting systems. The period of composting exceeds 3 months, with a minimum of 4 turnings per batch. The 9 VFG-composting plants treat the VFG-waste in closed tunnels or halls, at least during the period of intensive biological decomposition. Maturing can take place in covered or uncovered rows. The last 3 years, there is an increase in the construction of treatment plants for biothermic drying and anaerobic digestion. These plants are mainly focused on the treatment of manure, as a result of the Flemish Manure Decree which forces the treatment of animal manure for export of nutrients from the Flemish region. Biowaste is in many cases co-treated with animal manure.

3.3

Quality assurance of compost

From the point of view that the production of compost (resulting from the commitment of separate collection and obligation for treatment) should go hand in hand with the reasoned use of compost, the Flemish Public Waste Agency supported the initiation of VLACO, the Flemish Compost Association, an independent non-profit membership organisation bringing together the stakeholders with activities related to prevention, collection and treatment of biowaste (OVAM, compost producers, municipalities and inter-municipalities). The two main work domains of VLACO NPO are compost quality assurance and compost marketing. Since its start-up in 1992, VLACO NPO has considered quality as a key issue. A quality assurance system (QAS) has been put in place, which is obligatory for all
11

professional composting and digestion plants in Flanders. This QAS is based on the principles of integral chain management. The QAS takes into account all aspects of the composting chain, from the acceptance of biowaste, the quality of the treatment process, end product quality up to customer support for a reasoned use. The outcome of the QAS on treatment plant level is one or several product certificates, showing that the compost is produced according to the criteria set up in the certification scheme and the waste legislation. Without the control certificate, treated biowaste cannot be used as a secondary material. Control of compliance with this certification scheme is done through means of regular audits and product sampling. The choice for setting up a certification scheme not only based on product analysis but over viewing the whole process from input to output is supported by risk minimalisation. Infinite sampling and analysis of compost is practically and economically impossible. Moreover, in a suboptimal treatment process, the product standards (which are rather strict in Flanders) will be met with more difficulty. Therefore, in the QAS monitored by VLACO, control certificates are granted to treatment plants when the treatment complies with the control points, and the product analyses show that the end product tests are in conformity with the product standards. A parameter that has a direct impact on the product quality is the biowaste fraction being treated. In the Flemish waste regulation, the origin of this biowaste fraction is clearly defined as the separately collected organic fraction of household waste (VFG waste) and green waste. Regular sorting analyses are done by the waste management associations and composting plants to ensure the intrinsic quality of the input material. There are intensive promotion and information campaigns in Flanders about recycling and separate collection of biowaste, ensuring the basis for a high compost quality. The main drivers for the successful compost story in Flanders are not of pure economical origin, but integrate social and environmental aspects as well. The most important aspects of the VLACO quality assurance system are: (a) (b) (c) (d) a strict acceptance protocol process management according to ISO-principles quality monitoring of the end product reasoned use of the end products

(a) a strict acceptance protocol Treatment plants must have procedures describing the acceptance of inputs for green waste composting or VFG waste composting. Only separately collected biowaste is allowed to be used as an input. Regular sorting analyses must be carried out. Treatment contracts exists between all professional biowaste treatment plants and the municipalities or inter-municipalities, which guarantees the intrinsic quality of the input material. Through visual control at the gate and regular sorting tests of the biowaste being presented, treatment plants ensure an input stream of continuous high quality. In case of non-conformity with the acceptance criteria, the biowaste is refused, and the cause of incompliance has to be dealt with. The quality of separately collected biowaste from households, if insufficient, can be adequately improved through sensitizing and information campaigns. The acceptance of a fraction of industrial biowaste from food industries is only possible when regular analyses on agricultural and environmental parameters are carried out.

12

(b) process management according to ISO-principles VLACO VZW has set up a QAS for professional treatment plants of biowaste according to the principles of the ISO 9000 certification standard and integral chain management. The whole chain of biowaste treatment, from input quality over the treatment process and quality assessment of the end products is monitored using an integral quality management system, set in place on every treatment plant. Experience showed that a quality assessment only based on end product testing is insufficient. Non-conformities are reported and countered with adequate measures ensuring a progressive improvement of the quality of the production. Registration of the key aspects (dates, batch numbers, type and quality of input material, process parameters e.g. temperature, management actions e.g. turning, sieving, ) leads to an auto control system that allows tracking and tracing of the products. During the important step of hygienisation of the biowaste, temperature and management are to be over watched very closely. Through regular auditing by VLACO, the implementation of the quality aspects by the composting plants are over looked. Moreover, other legislation on regional, federal or European level (e.g. the Animal By-products Regulation 1774/2002, the intended EPPO-guidelines for treatment of biowaste of plant origin) also suggest the importance of a well-founded QAS on treatment plant level together with adequate and sufficient product testing. The outcome of the system audits together with continued product testing can lead to a control certificate, approving that the products are in accordance with the quality requirements. (c) quality monitoring of the end product The VLAREA-legislation for use of treated biowaste as a secondary material (fertiliser or soil improver) sets up limit values for the most important environmental parameters, both organic (PAH, PCB, volatile compounds, ) and inorganic (heavy metals) (see Annex 1). The VLACO QAS is based on limit values that are even stricter than these values, and carries along parameters indicating the agronomic importance of the end products (nutrients, soil organic matter) as well as the physical and biological quality aspects (impurities, viable seeds, stability). In table 1, the quality standards for green compost are shown, in table 2 the standards for VFG compost. Nutrient composition is tested and to be declared to the user, not regulated. The necessary samples are taken by VLACO and offered for analysis in accredited laboratories using recognised methods. The amount of samples necessary per treatment plant is calculated on the basis of biowaste input. When several product types are produced at the same location, the sampling and analysis protocol is carried out by VLACO on all product types. The outcome of 1 analysis is always compared to the product standards, but the decision about certification is based on a progressive set of sample results, with quality objectives that are stricter than the product standards. By reviewing several product analysis results on a continuous time scale, the certification body (VLACO NPO) is able to observe temporal product incompliance. This can be related to non-conform process parameters which must be solved in a plan of action. Solitary product analysis reports are insufficient sources of information for assessing a compost production plant. Compost is not only a product, but the result of a controlled and sustainable biological treatment process of separately collected biowaste.

13

Besides the analyses carried out by VLACO NPO, the treatment plants are themselves obliged to take product samples for internal quality assurance. (d) reasoned use of the end products Not only the composition of the end product is a possible risk from point of view of environmental or public health matters, also the unreasoned use could pose a problem, e.g. excessive application rates with undesired side effects such as phytotoxicity, nutrient overshoot or imbalance, Therefore, the VLACO NPO QAS imposes the professional composting plants to inform the consumers about the use of the product(s), in all possible applications. This is done by an information leaflet mentioning the composition, usual application rates, application manner, hygienic safety, The integration of quality assurance measures all along the production chain of compost, with strong emphasis on product input, regular product testing and reasoned use of product output, enhances the possibility to assure environmental and public health safety. This is guaranteed through the issuing of control certificates for the different products by VLACO.

14

Table 1 : Vlaco-standards for green compost

QO GENERAL PARAMETERS
Entrance through a 40 mm sieve Dry matter Organic matter pH (water) >50 >16 20 20 >99 >45 >14 6,5 - 9,5 % weight % weight % *

Percentile

Standard

Unit

HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION

Arsenic Cadmium Chromium Copper Mercury Lead Nickel Zinc <15 <1,5 <70 <90 <1 <120 <20 <300 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 <20 <2 <70 <150 <1 <150 <30 <400 mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM

IMPURITIES, STONES AND VIABLE SEEDS

Impurities > 2 mm Stones >5 mm Viable seeds <0,5 <2,0 <1 75 75 90 <0,8 <4 Max. 1 weight % weight % #/l

STABILITY/M ATURITY
Decomposition degree (temperature) Nitrate-ammonium ratio and phytotoxicity <30 90 <40 C %

A score is calculated taking into account nitrate-ammonium ratio and the amounts of mineral nitrogen

Product standards to be judged upon sampling: product appearance. The product must be loose and not compacted.

QO = Quality Objective
15

Table 2 : Vlaco-standards for VFG compost

QO GENERAL PARAMETERS
Entrance through a 40 mm sieve Dry matter Organic matter pH (water) >50 >16 20 20 >99 >45 >14 6,5 - 9,5 % weight % weight % *

Percentile

Standard

Unit

HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION

Arsenic Cadmium Chromium Copper Mercury Lead Nickel Zinc <15 <1,5 <70 <90 <1 <120 <20 <300 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 <20 <2 <70 <150 <1 <150 <30 <400 mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM mg/kg DM

IMPURITIES, STONES AND VIABLE SEEDS

Impurities > 2 mm Stones >5 mm Viable seeds <0,5 <2,0 <1 75 75 90 <0,8 <4 Max. 1 weight % weight % #/l

STABILITY/M ATURITY
Decomposition degree (temperature) <40 80 <45 C

Product standards to be judged upon sampling: product appearance. The product must be loose and not compacted.

QO = Quality Objective
16

3.4

Other legislation concerning compost

Because of the agricultural value of compost and digestate, the end products of a biological treatment process of biowaste are subject to the Belgian Federal law embedded in a Royal Decree concerning the trade of fertilisers, soil improvers and substrates. The product standards are similar to those set up in the VLACO QAS, and the control elements (testing procedures, product parameters, terms of use, ) in both legislations are smoothly tuned to each other. The sampling and analysis protocol carried out in the VLACO QAS is used as a background for compliance with federal law on fertilisers. For compost and digestion residue, a derogation needs to be obtained from the Belgian Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, which is impossible without the control certificate granted by VLACO. In execution of the European Nitrates Directive, the Flemish Community promulgated a decree limiting the use of nutrients in Flemish agriculture (Flemish Manure Decree = Decree concerning the protection of water against the pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources). According to this decree, compost and digestion residue from aerobic or anaerobic treatment of separately collected biowaste (without co-treatment of animal manure) is considered as an organic fertiliser as it contains nitrogen and phosphorus. The application dose allowed in agriculture is hereby limited, all the more because of the excessive production of animal manure in the Flemish region, which creates a competition for deposition on the available surface. Because of beneficial effects of the use of compost against prevention of soil erosion (through enrichment with stable organic carbon), an annual extra compost application is allowed in some situations. High competition between animal manure and compost due to this decree is the main reason of the poor marketing potential of compost on agricultural land in Flanders. The Animal By-Products Regulation EC 1774/2002 is determining whenever animal by-products are involved. As far as the green composting plants are involved, the co-treatment of biowaste of animal origin is prohibited (see definition of green waste) by regional waste law (VLAREA). Besides, the majority of the VFG composting plants are not recognised for the treatment of animal by-products. This is because some inter-municipalities have explicitly excluded animal by-products by using the definition of VFG waste (vegetable, fruit and garden waste with exclusion of catering waste), and is in some cases affirmed by the environmental permit not allowing the treatment of biowaste of animal origin. Only few biowaste treatment plants in Flanders have actually chosen for a recognition according to the EC 1774/2002, allowing to treat animal by-products through composting or anaerobic digestion.

17

Conclusions

The positive experience with biological treatment of biowaste in Flanders throughout the years learns that biowaste treatment for re-use and compost production are in fact one and the same. The production of high quality compost using biowaste cannot be guaranteed on the basis of pure product sampling tests, without having information about the production circumstances. This would especially become a problem when different types of compost with varying quality levels would be produced. When cutting the link between waste treatment and compost production, some biowaste of unsuitable origin threatens to become allowed as it would pose compliance with the product standards through dilution with co-treated material. Dilution is not the solution for pollution is a slogan that clearly reflects the point of view of the Flemish waste legislation: biowaste as an input for biological treatment must meet the same standards as the end product (compost or digestion residue). History showed that the quality of compost could be improved just by mastering the input list of biowaste, especially by sensitizing public households and/or private companies for a proper separate collection of biowaste. Throughout the years, a solid confidence has grown between producers and consumers of compost, based on information exchange, knowledge about treatment processes and input materials, confidence in the existing certification schemes, When letting treated biowaste go as a product (transformed into a compost or digestion residue) the social corner-stone of sustainable waste treatment is lost. Moreover, in a global market, compost locally produced is able to travel around the world. This is only an acceptable case when several conditions are met, e.g. transport towards regions with soil organic matter shortage, global benchmarking of compost quality assurance (based on both product and process control), The strength of compost is not only determined by the direct beneficial product effects (slow nutrient release, soil physical improvement) but also by the indirect background of sustainable product recycling. We can conclude that there are several reasons why a separate biowaste directive would create added value to existing Community and national legislation: High quality compost cannot be reached by product standards alone. The chain as a whole needs to be managed. If not, we risk that low standard compost will be placed on the market, creating uneven competition and jeopardising local collection and treatment schemes. A biowaste directive that lays down common standards for the chain as a whole is necessary for creating this level playing field. The Flemish case has shown that composting of biowaste has contributed considerably to lowering the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfills. A biowaste directive will contribute to the reduction targets that have been laid down in the Landfill Directive. Composting is a treatment option that is as important as incineration as an alternative option. And the environmental risk of low standard composting can be as high as of low standard incineration. Therefore it would be natural that the incineration directive has its counterpart in a biowaste directive. A biowaste directive will help achieve the European Unions goals in tackling climate change.

18

Annexes

5.1

Secondary raw materials

The VLAREA (Flemish Regulation on Waste Prevention and Management) contains a list of waste materials that may be used as secondary raw materials provided that they suffice with regard tot the conditions determined in appendix 4.2.1. (specific for the use as fertiliser of soli-improving substance). A waste material loses the status of waste material and becomes a secondary raw material from the time of it meeting the set conditions. Appendix 4.1. LIST OF WASTE MATERIALS COMING INTO CONSIDERATION FOR USE AS A SECONDARY RAW MATERIALS

Section 1.Use in or as a fertiliser or soil-improving substance

NAME OF THE WASTE MATERIAL SOURCE AND DESCRIPTION CONDITIONS RELATING TO COMPOSITION AND/OR USE article 4.2.1.1

"Earth foam" from sugar refining plants

sugar refining plant obtained during the refining of sugar, mainly consisting of calcium carbonate, organic substances and water residual ash from lime burning, with calcium oxide as main component and possibly also calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate

Lime ash

article 4.2.1.1

Calcium sulphate

obtained with the production article 4.2.1.1 of phosphoric and/or citric certificate for use acid, and which contains compulsory hydrated calcium sulphate mushroom farms - organic medium remaining after the cultivation of field mushrooms licensed establishment for the composting of bark waste obtained by removing bark from trees article 4.2.1.1

Harvested mushroom compost

Tree bark compost

article 4.2.1.1

Vinasse, vinasse extract, kali yeast production plant vinasse and chicory vinasse syrupy residue resulting from digested treacle, extract obtained from

article 4.2.1.1

19

vinasse by the addition of ammonium sulphate or obtained during the production of inulin Fish meal, animal meal, feather meal, bone meal, wool, fish solubles, substances obtained during hide processing, galalith in powder form, horn meal, leather flour, blood meal or other substances of animal origin to be permitted Dried cocoa, tobacco and coffee waste accredited or registered processing plant for animal waste materials including blood article 4.2.1.1 certificate for use compulsory - animal waste regulations

natural stimulants industry - article 4.2.1.1 obtained with the processing of cocoa beans, coffee beans and tobacco and with the preparation of theobromine from cocoa waste through the addition of calcium industrial citric acid production - obtained from rinsing citric acid article 4.2.1.1 certificate for use compulsory

Deposited double salt of potassium sulphate and calcium sulphate (if this involves the addition of a magnesium salt , add "with magnesium salt") Oil cake meal

extraction of vegetable oils obtained when extracting oil by pressing oil-bearing seeds malthouse see article 1.1.1, 2, 52

article 4.2.1.1

Malt shoots Treated sewage sludge

article 4.2.1.1 articles 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2 - certificate for use compulsory article 4.2.1.1 certificate for use compulsory article 4.2.1.1 - dispose of a test certificate granted by the nonprofit organisation VLACO (1) or subject to a similar quality control (2)

Calcium-containing sludge

water treatment - obtained during the preparation of drinking water or process water from raw water licensed establishment for the composting or fermentation of vegetable, fruit and garden waste with at most 25% of organic biological industrial waste or of organic waste originating from gardens and parks,

Vegetable, fruit and garden waste and vegetation compost

20

public or otherwise, and verges Compost or digestate of organic biological industrial wastes licensed establishment for the composting or fermentation of organic biological industrial wastes, possibly in combination with animal manure article 4.2.1.1 - dispose of a test certificate granted by the nonprofit organisation VLACO (1) or subject to a similar quality control (2)

Filter cake

Foodstuffs industry article 4.2.1.1 obtained from the filtration of food products on inorganic filter mediums (diatomaceous earth, perlite, bleaching earth, Y) aroma production - obtained article 4.2.1.1 from the hydrolysis of proteins produced during the sawing, article 4.2.1.1 grinding, polishing and smoothing of calciferous natural stone Fermentation industry obtained with fermentation methionine production liquid substance in which potassium is present as potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate glycine production obtained from the preparation of the amino acid glycine steel industry - calcium silicophosphates originating from the treatment of cast iron originating from a licensed processing plant for separately collected eggshells, crustaceans, Y flax industry, cereal industry originating from animals not considered to be livestock article 4.2.1.1 certificate for use compulsory article 4.2.1.1

Hydrolysed protein for fertiliser Sludge from natural stone processing

Fermentation filter cake

Potassium mother liquor

Solution containing ammonium chloride

article 4.2.1.1

Ground steel slag

article 4.2.1.1

Dried and ground inorganic calcium-containing food remains Flax dust, cereal dust Manure

article 4.2.1.1 certificate for use compulsory article 4.2.1.1 article 4.2.1.1

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according to the Manure Decree, and not from test animals Sterilised and dried mixture of sewage sludge, animal waste and animal manure accredited or registered processing plant for animal waste materials including blood articles 4.2.1.1 and 4.2.1.2 - certificate for use compulsory animal waste regulations

1. Vlaamse CompostOrganisatie v.z.w. - Flemish compost organisation (non-profit association). 2. Certification and inspection carried out by an institution having the required competence for the material concerned. At least the same control procedures and the same guarantees as with a VLACO inspection must be present. The control procedure bears on both the internal quality control (acceptance policy, registration of all deliveries and removals, quality control) and the external control of this by an accredited independent institution. The "same guarantees" is understood to mean that the operator of the recovery installation must have the necessary licences to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations concerning environmental protection and agricultural quality.

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5.2

Appendix 4.2.1. of the VLAREA

CONDITIONS RELATING TO COMPOSITION AND USE AS FERTILISER OR SOIL-IMPROVING SUBSTANCE
Appendix 4.2.1.A.

1. COMPOSITION CONDITIONS MAXIMUM LEVELS OF POLLUTANTS

METALS (1) 1.1. PARAMETERS Arsenic (As) Cadmium (Cd) Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu) Mercury (Hg) Lead (Pb) Nickel (Ni) Zinc (Zn) TOTAL CONCENTRATION (2) (mg/kg dry substance) 150 6 250 375 5 300 50 900

1. the concentration applies for the metal and its compounds expressed in metal 2. determination of the metal concentration according to WFC method 2/II/A.3, included in the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis. 1.1.1. MONOCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS 1.1. PARAMETERS Benzene Ethylbenzene Styrene Toluene Xylene TOTAL CONCENTRATION (3) (mg/kg dry substance) 1,1 1,1 1,1 1,1 1,1

3. determination of the concentration of organic pollutants according to the method included in part 3 of the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis (WFC).
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2.1.1. POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS PARAMETERS Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(ghi)perylene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Chrysene Phenanthrene Fluoranthene Indeno(1,2,3cd)pyrene Naphthalene TOTAL CONCENTRATION (3) (mg/kg dry substance) 0,68 1,1 1,1 2,3 2,3 1,7 0,9 2,3 1,1 2,3

3. determination of the concentration of organic pollutants according to the method included in part 3 of the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis. 3.1.1. OTHER ORGANIC SUBSTANCES PARAMETERS Monochlorobenzene Dichlorobenzene Trichlorobenzene Tetrachlorobenzene Pentachlorobenzene Hexachlorobenzene 1,2-dichloroethane Dichloromethane Trichloromethane Trichloroethene TOTAL CONCENTRATION (3) (mg/kg dry substance) 0,23 0,23 0,23 0,23 0,23 0,23 0,23 0,23 0,23 0,23

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Tetrachloromethane Tetrachloroethene Vinylchloride 1,1,1-trichloroethane 1,1,2 -trichloroethane 1,1-dichloroethane Cis+trans-1,2-dichloroethane Hexane Heptane Octane Extractable organohalogen compounds (EOX) Mineral oil Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB as S 7 congeners)

0,23 0,23 0,23 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.23 5.5 5.5 5.5 20 560 0.8

3. determination of the concentration of organic pollutants according to the method included in part 3 of the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis/LI>

Appendix 4.2.1.B
GEBRUIKSVOORWAARDEN CONDITIONS FOR USE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SOIL DOSAGE

METALS (1) 1.5. PARAMETERS Arsenic (As) Cadmium (Cd) Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu) Mercury (Hg) lead (Pb) SOIL DOSAGES (g/ha/year) (2) 300 12 500 750 10 600

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nickel (Ni) Zinc (Zn)

100 1.800

1. the concentration applies for the metal and its compounds expressed in metal. 2. determination of the metal concentration according to WFC method 2/II/A.3, included in the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis. 5.1.1. MONOCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS 1.6. PARAMETERS Benzene Ethylbenzene Styrene Toluene Xylene SOIL DOSAGES (g/ha/year) (3) 2,2 2,2 2,2 2,2 2,2

3. determination of the concentration of organic pollutants according to the method included in part 3 of the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis. 6.1.1. POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS 1.7. PARAMETERS Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(ghi)perylene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Chrysene Phenanthrene Fluoranthene Indeno(1,2,3cd)pyrene Naphthalene SOIL DOSAGES (g/ha/year) (3) 1,36 2,2 2,2 4,6 4,6 3,4 1,8 4,6 2,2 4,6

3. determination of the concentration of organic pollutants according to the method included in part 3 of the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis.

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7.1.1. OTHER ORGANIC SUBSTANCES 1.8. PARAMETERS Monochlorobenzene Dichlorobenzene Trichlorobenzene Tetrachlorobenzene Pentachlorobenzene Hexachlorobenzene 1.2 dichloroethane Dichloromethane Trichloromethane Trichloroethene Tetrachloromethane Tetrachloroethene Vinylchloride 1,1,1-trichloroethane 1,1,2 -trichloroethane 1,1-dichloroethane Cis+trans-1,2-dichloroethane Hexane Heptane Octane Extractable organohalogen compounds (EOX) Mineral oil Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB as S 7 congeners) SOIL DOSAGES (g/ha/year) (3) 0,46 0,46 0,46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0,46 0,46 0,46 0,46 0,46 0,46 0,46 0.46 0.46 0.46 0.46 11 11 11 40 1120 1.6

3. determination of the concentration of organic pollutants according to the method included in part 3 of the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis.

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Appendix 4.2.1.C
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR THE USE OF TREATED SLUDGE AS FERTILISER OR SOIL-IMPROVING SUBSTANCE 1. TREATED SEWAGE SLUDGE Treated sludge must have undergone at least one of the following treatments to be classified as treated purification sludge: * mesophilic anaerobic fermentation under the following conditions: temperature: 35 ; C average renewal time: 15 days;

* liquid storage at ambient temperature in a batch, without addition or extraction during the 3-month storage period; * The sludge must at least reach a factor 100 reduction for Escherichia coli; * aerobic stabilisation (with a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of over 1 ppm): simultaneous, i.e. in the same basins as the waste water treatment itself, with a sludge load < or = 0.06 kg BOD/kg sludge/day or a volume load < or = 0.25 kg BOD/m3/day; separately, i.e. in a separate basin for this purpose, with a hydraulic renewal time of 10 days;

* addition of lime to obtain a homogenous mixture of lime and sludge. The mixture reaches pH > 12 immediately after the addition of lime and is to maintain the pH value of at least 12 over a 24-hour period; * thermal drying to guarantee a sludge particle temperature over 80 with a C reduction of water content to less than 10%; Other treatment methods may be approved by OVAM if it can be shown that the result obtained by means of such treatment is at least equivalent to the result of the treatment methods specified above. The relevant process parameters must be measured at least daily and continually if at all practical continually. The measurement data shall be kept available for inspection by the supervisory officials 2. SAMPLING OF TREATED SLUDGE Treated sludge must be sampled after processing, but before delivery to the user, and should be representative of the sludge production. 3. ANALYSIS OF TREATED SLUDGE As a general rule treated sludge must be analysed at least every six months. If changes occur in the quality of the processed waste water, the frequency of these analyses must be doubled.

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Without prejudice to the parameters summarised in appendix 4.2.1.B the following parameters are to be analysed: * dry substance; * degree of acidity; * organic substance; * nitrogen; * diphosphorus pentoxide. The analysis is to take place according to methods included in the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis. 4. SOIL SAMPLING The representative soil samples for analysis should normally be made up by mixing together 25 core samples taken over an area not exceeding 5 hectares which is farmed for the same purpose. The samples must be taken to a depth of 25 cm unless the depth of the surface soil is less than that value; however, the sampling depth in the latter case must not be less than 10 cm. 5. SOIL ANALYSIS Soil samples from utilised agricultural areas are analysed for acidity, diphosphorus pentoxide and the parameters summarised in VLAREBO. The analysis is to take place according to methods included in the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis.

Appendix 4.2.1.D
METALS (1) MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION IN REFERENCE SOIL (2) (mg/kg dry substance) 22 0.9 46 49 1,3 56 18 162

Arsenic (As) Cadmium (Cd) Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu) Mercury (Hg) Lead (Pb) Nickel (Ni) Zinc (Zn)

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1. the concentration applies for the metal and its compounds expressed in metal. The determination of the metal concentration is to be performed according to WFC method 2/II/A.3. included in the Compendium for Sampling and Analysis. 2. Reference soil contains a level of 10% clay for the mineral components and a level of 2% organic material for the air-dry soil. The maximum values for treated sludge to be used as soil depend on the measured concentrations of clay and organic material in representative samples of the waste. The conversion of the maximum values takes place on the basis of the formula below: CONVERSION FORMULA M (x,y) = M (10,2) + (x-10)* B + (y-2)*C where: M x y maximum value with a clay level of x% or 10% and a level of organic material of y% or 2%; level of clay in the sample of the waste; level of organic material in the sample of the waste;

M (10,2) maximum value in reference soil, i.e. with 10% clay and 2% organic material (table of numeric values in appendix 4.2.1.D); B en C coefficients dependent on the metal in question, as specified in the table below. 1.9. METALS Arsenic Cadmium Chromium Copper Mercury Lead Nickel Zinc 1.10. B 0,5 0,03 0,6 0,3 0,0046 0,3 0,2 1,1 1.11. C 0 0,05 0 0 0 2,3 0,3 2,3

The formula above may only be used in the following conditions: * the measured clay content level must be between 1% and 50%; * the measured organic materials content level must be between 1% and 20%.

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If the measured clay content level is below 1%, the calculation must be performed with a presumed clay content level equal to 1%. If the measured clay content level is over 50%, the calculation must be performed with a presumed clay content level equal to 50%. If the measured organic materials content level is below 1%, the calculation must be performed with a presumed organic materials content level equal to 1%. If the measured organic materials content level is over 20%, the calculation must be performed with a presumed organic materials content level equal to 20%.

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