New developments and insights on the effects of kitchen & garden waste processing and the structural positive contribution to reduce global warming The relationship between compost plants and Kyoto John van Haeff, Manager Converteren, Essent Milieu

Central question Kyoto challenge in the Netherlands: 13 million tons CO 2 emission equivalents must be saved in 2010 (a 6% reduction compared to1990) To what extent is the compost sector able to contribute this challenge as part of the waste industry? How many CO 2 emission equivalents can municipalities and authorities achieve and save extra?

Two parts I.Current status second generation compost plants II.The meaning of compost for the Netherlands

I.Current status second generation compost plants

2003: refurbished compost plant in Maastricht

Flow chart Mass balance VFG waste Maastricht 2004 iron OM loss 44,9% particles 50+ 0,3% 0,9% sifter residue 2,2%1,2% 50,5% Iron Lost of heating 44,9% particles 50+ 0,3% residu 1,2% recirculation shredding magnet composting sieving 50 mmfraction 50 +hard fraction separatorsiftermagnet fraction 0-50 sieving 18 mmfraction 18-50hard fraction separatorsifterparticles fraction 0-18 sieving 10 mmfraction 10-18hard fraction separatorcompost compost 0-10hard fraction after processing compost 0-18 VFG waste

Photographs compost plant in Maastricht

Production results Primary products: Soil improversproduct certificate German BGK Peat substitutesconform RHP guidelines Secondary products: Biomass green energyTunka®, conform Dutch BRL biomass Maastricht processes annually 100,000 tons kitchen & garden waste Only 1% not used usefully

Conclusion part 1 Solid infrastructure in processing of selective collected municipality organic waste Proven technology Low cost operation Compost industry facilates process of reducing organic waste on landfill EU biowaste legislation is necessary to facilate further growth in old EU memberstates and to devellop compost plants in new EU memberstates

II. The significance of compost in the Netherlands

Compost: contributes to soil fertility Thanks to compost: more efficient use of minerals, in conformity with Nitrate guideline. Recognition in the Netherlands through partial dispensation If organic content agricultural ground < 1%, then: no ground water protection no food production no energy crops cultivation (and therefore no biomass) In Europe 20% of agricultural acreage dropped to organic content < 1%!

Organic content chart Europe

Compost: contribution to decrease CO2 emissions Binding organic matter: the carbon storage place Reduction in peat winning: compost as substitute Reduction in CO 2 burdening artificial fertilizer production, through nutrient value compost Total reduction Dutch kitchen & garden waste sector is > around 65,000 tons CO 2 emission reduction. This also applies to green waste. Together around 125,000 tons

CO2-effects compost route (I) Effect Kg CO2eq/ton K&G waste 1. Energyconsumption composting+17,4 2. Other emissions plant+35,4 3a. Peat substitution due to compost-40,2 3b. Substitution art.fertilizers-57,2 (-28,7) 3c. Substitution animal manure0 3d. Carbon retention-24,2 4. Emissions during/after compost application -22,9

CO2-effects compost route (II) Effect Kg CO2eq/ton K&G waste 5. Removal residue composting-3,2 6a. Improvement disease resistance Not quantifiable 6b. Increase in crop yieldsNot quantifiable 6c. Improvement of long term soil quality Not quantifiable Total-94,9 (-66,4) Source: Grontmij & Ivam (2004) Herziene levenscyclusanalyse voor GFT-afval – Herberekening LCA bij het MER-LAP. De Bilt/Amsterdam, November 2004

Conclusion part 2 The Dutch kitchen & garden waste composting sector achieves 65 kilo tons extra reduction of CO 2 -emission each year (compared to the ‘next best alternative’) Together with the green composting sector this represents kilo tons CO 2 per year, corresponding to around 1% of the aimed total Dutch reduction Extra CO 2 -emission reduction via composting instead of incineration route Optimal management of composting installations increases CO 2 - yield Potential CO2-emission reduction needs Biowaste Directative.

Conclusion Central questions: -To what extent is the compost sector able to contribute this challenge as part of the waste industry? - How many CO2 emission equivalents can municipalities and authorities achieve and save extra? Second generation Dutch compost plants belong to the best in Europe Compost products are valuable in the context of sustainable soil management and applicable within the Nitrate Guideline Compost production (> 1,000,000 tons) from the waste sector accounts for 1% of the total CO 2 emission reduction Targets landfill directative are supported by compost plants. To facilate targets of landfill directative and CO 2 reduction the biowaste directative is necessary

Thank you for your attention!