Press release
23 February 2010
For immediate release
QUALITY ASSURANCE SCHEME COULD BOOST
AGRICULTURAL MARKET FOR BIOFERTILISER
Agricultural demand for biofertiliser, the nutrient-rich fertiliser and soil conditioner
produced when quality bio-degradable wastes are treated via anaerobic digestion
(AD), could be about to receive a boost from the introduction of new quality
assurance measures.
BSI PAS 110 is a voluntary national quality specification for biofertiliser. The Quality
Protocol (QP) for the production and use of quality outputs from Anaerobic Digestion
will allows producers to verify that their product is of consistent quality and fit for
purpose, enabling it to be marketed as “bio-fertiliser” and therefore exempt from
costly waste management controls.
Nina Sweet, organics technical specialist at WRAP, said, “The introduction of BSI PAS
110 is a fundamental step in helping to develop sustainable markets for biofertilisers.
Making it easier for farmers to use biofertiliser will increase demand within the
agricultural community for fertilising and soil conditioning products derived from
waste material. This will reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers which has obvious
environmental and economic benefits for the agricultural industry.”
From today, BSI PAS 110 is available to AD operators throughout England, Scotland
and Wales. Operators in England and Wales, who wish to use their digestate as a
product rather than a waste, must also meet the additional requirements of the
ADQP, which was launched last September.
The ADQP was developed by the Waste Protocols Project – a joint WRAP and
Environment Agency initiative – in close collaboration with the Renewable Energy
Association (REA) and other industry bodies. Those that choose not to comply with
the quality protocol are still subject to regulation.
David Collins, from REA said, “BSI PAS 110 and the ADQP are extremely important
developments within the AD industry.
They provide assurance to consumers,
farmers, food producers and retailers alike that biofertiliser is a safe and good quality
product.”
Jake Prior, Operations Director for Andigestion, which runs an AD plant in West
Devon, supplying about 40 local farmers, said,
“We usually apply for about 90 waste exemption licences on behalf of the agricultural
industry per year at a cost of £500 each. Being compliant with BSI PAS 110 and the
ADQP will save tens of thousands of pounds and also provides important validation
for farmers that biofertiliser is a safe, effective and environmentally friendly product.”
“It will also make it economically viable for us to supply farmers who want to use
smaller amounts of biofertiliser. Until now, we’ve had to restrict ourselves to largerscale users as the exemptions apply to 50 hectare blocks of land,” Mr Prior
continued.
ENDS
Notes to Editors

A separate certification scheme is used to ensure that biogas plants comply
with BSI PAS 110 and the ADQP in England and Wales, and with BSI PAS 110
alone in Scotland. The scheme is managed by REA and more information can
be found at www.biofertiliser.org.uk

To
find
out
more
about
http://www.wrap.org.uk/ad
PAS110,
please
visit
WRAP’s
website:

To find out more about the ADQP, please visit www.environmentagency.gov.uk/biodegradablewaste

WRAP helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and
recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate
change

Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by
Government funding from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics,
Business and Markets, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support),
WRAP’s work focuses on market development and support to drive forward
recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as
wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media
national Recycle Now campaign for England

More information on WRAP’s work can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

The Renewable Energy Association was established in 2001 to represent
British renewable energy producers and promote the use of sustainable
energy in the UK
For further media information contact:
Amy Parry or Claire Methven, 3 Monkeys Communications
Office: 020 7009 3105 / 3133
E-mail: wrapagri@3-monkeys.co.uk