Association КЕ&B - UV&P

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1 O P E R A T I O N A L P R O G R A M M E E N V I R O N M E N T Association КЕ&B - UV&P VAT.Nr.: BG Preki pat str., Sofia 1618 Bulgaria Tel./fax:( ) Biowaste.BG12@gmail.com E U R O P E A N U N I O N E U R O P E A N R E G I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T F U N D W E I N V E S T I N Y O U R F U T U R E Project No TA-2011-KPOS-PP-78 Technical assistance on waste management Development of legal framework on bio-waste management and establishment of Quality Assurance System for Compost and National Organization of Quality Assurance for the Compost Development of Legal Framework on Bio-Waste Management and Establishment of Quality Assurance System for Compost and National Organisation of Quality Assurance for the Compost STAGE I Analysis of the EU Acquis and Bulgarian Legislation on the Biowaste Management and the Residual Fraction of Household Waste Part IV Model and Phased Action Plan for Biowaste Management in Bulgaria Supplement A Options for a Decentralised Biowaste Management in Bulgaria Final Report 3 September _Model_Decentralised-Bulgaria_draft_v1.0_EN.doc The document was developed with the financial support of the European Regional Development Fund under EU Operational Programme "Environment

2 Main Author: Florian Amlinger Compost Consulting & Development

3 Table of Contents 1. GENERAL ASPECTS OF DECENTRALISED ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT HOME COMPOSTING COMMUNITY COMPOSTING ON-SITE COMPOSTING LOCAL AUTHORITY GARDEN/PARK WASTE COMPOSTING ON FARM COMPOSTING AN EXAMPLE OF A NATIONAL DECENTRALISED APPROACH FROM AUSTRIA ON-FARM COMPOSTING COOPERATION MODELS IN DECENTRALISED COMPOSTING SUMMARY OF DECENTRALISED COMPOSTING AND EVALUATION OF THE MODEL OF SUITABLE FOR BULGARIA ANALYSIS OF THE AUSTRIAN DECENTRALISED COMPOSTING OPEN WINDROW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BULGARIAN SITUATION CONCLUSIONS...18 List of Tables TABLE 1. ANALYSIS OF THE AUSTRIAN COLLECTION MODELS FOR THE BULGARIAN SITUATION...16 TABLE 2. ANALYSIS OF THE AUSTRIAN DECENTRALISED COMPOSTING OPEN WINDROW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BULGARIAN SITUATION...17 List of Figures FIGURE 1. GUIDELINE TO PRACTICAL BACKYARD COMPOSTING AN IMPORTANT MEDIA TO PROMOTE HOME COMPOSTING... 3 FIGURE 2. THE BACKYARD COMPOST HEAP THE HEART OF A SUSTAINABLE MANAGED GARDEN AND CONTRIBUTING SUBSTANTIALLY TO WASTE PREVENTION... 4 FIGURE 3. SHREDDER SERVICE FOR BULKY GARDEN WASTE / BRANCHES THE SHREDDER MATERIAL MAY REMAIN IN THE GARDEN OR CAN BE TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL COMPOSTING PLANT FIGURE 4. OUTDOOR WINDROW PILE OF GARDEN/PARK WASTE AT CORK COUNTY COUNCIL S COMPOSTING SITE AT CORK COUNTY COUNCIL S BANDON CIVIC AMENITY SITE (FOTO: CRÉ, COMPOSTING ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND)... 8 FIGURE 5. SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF COMPOSTING PLANTS FOR OFBMW, IN AUSTRIA... 9 FIGURE 6. SIMPLE COLLECTION VEHICLES RUN AND MAINTAINED BY FARMERS...11 FIGURE 7. TYPICAL AGRICULTURAL COMPOSTING PLANT WITH OPEN WINDROW COMPOSTING ON A PAVED ROTTING AREA WITH CONTROLLED DRAINAGE WATER COLLECTION AND USE FIGURE 8. FOOD WASTE BUCKETS AND PAPER BAGS AS WELL AS 100 LITRE PAPER BAGS TO COLLECT FINE GARDEN/PARK WASTE...13 FIGURE 9. COLLECTION CONTAINER ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF A TRACTOR...13 FIGURE 10. GARDEN/PARK WASTE DROPPED OFF AT A RECYCLING CENTRE...13 FIGURE 11. TYPICAL ON-FARM COMPOSTING SITE IN AUSTRIA USING OPEN WINDROW TECHNOLOGY WITH A COVER/FLEECE FOR FIRST STAGES OF COMPOSTING...13 FIGURE 12. PRE-TREATMENT MIXING AND HOMOGENISATION AND LOADING ON TRUCK OF RAW MATERIALS AT THE CENTRAL WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY OF GRAZ...14 FIGURE 13. DELIVERY AND TREATMENT OF READILY PRE-TREATED RAW COMPOST IN OPEN WINDROW AGRICULTURAL COMPOSTING PLANTS

4 1. General Aspects of Decentralised Organic Waste Management The term decentralised is wide ranging from home composting to windrow composting etc. This chapter will examine these options focusing on the decentralised organic waste management option in Austria. Case studies are presented of how organic waste is collected and processed in the typical decentralised composting plant in Austria (open windrow). Exemplary invest and operating costs for building decentralised composting plants will be provided too. Decentralised can be defined as any source separation and composting scheme for organic household/commercial waste and garden/park waste which is cognisant of the proximity principle between the point of collection and the composting plant. In principle decentralised composting can be performed by means of: Home composting, On-site and Community composting as a mean of waste prevention Composting of source separated garden and park waste of public and private origin as well as all types of biowaste at composting plants which are located within or close to the catchment area (settlement / municipality) where the organic waste is originating from. Zhis is in principle independent from the legal category of the composting entity. It can be done by an on-farm (agricultural), municipal or also commercial (industrial) facility. In case of an on-farm (agricultural) composting scheme this includes also that the compost is primarily used on the owner s agricultural land and it provides the option to contract farmers with the collection of food and garden waste in the settlements of the total catchment area of a rural municipality. The catchment area for biowaste by means of population as well as the treatment capacity per composting plant in decentralised models is therefore (in average) considerably smaller than in centralised composting structures. The slogan for a systematic decentralised biowaste management model could be: Every village, town or municipality its composting plant Of course such an paradigm has to be adapted and fit to each local situation. The important criteria for such an assessment are presented below. In summary, the term decentralised applies to the following: Home composting or backyard composting in private gardens; On-site composting at agricultural, public or commercial entities; Community composting: small-scale 5 to approximately 100 m³ composting initiative of local communities; Garden/park waste composting on behalf of the local authority park/garden division; On-farm composting plants: involves farmers building small composting plants on their property; Any regional collection and composting scheme which respects the proximity principle and Special case urban-rural cooperation model: In this case the collection and pretreatment of organic household waste and garden/park waste is done by a city/town local authority. The organic waste (raw compost) is delivered to decentralise on-farm composting sites for composting and maturation. 2

5 1.1 Home Composting In terms of the waste hierarchy, home and to a certain extent also community composting can be defined as a waste prevention activity. Source separated schemes should be introduced only after home composting has been promoted widely. The arguments for promoting home composting are obvious: No transport collection costs and infrastructure for organic household waste; Limiting public expenditure on PR work, awareness raising campaigns and eventually subsidies for home composters; Reduces waste charges and garden management for citizens; Decreasing the ecological footprint of waste management; Compost substitution for synthetic fertiliser and commercial growing media and potting soils (peat products) in hobby gardening; and Awareness raising for sustainable management of natural material in closed loop systems. Home Composting Figure 1. Guideline to practical backyard composting an important media to promote home composting The role of home composting in integrated biowaste collection and treatment schemes Especially in rural areas, home composting is able to process large amounts of biowaste. In Austria, based on the so-called 1992 Biowaste Ordinance 1, organic household waste is collected mainly with a brown-bin system. Brown bins with a litre volume are offered to all households. However, in single houses and detached or semi-detached settlements 1 national legislation for source separation of organic waste 3

6 with backyards, the brown bin can be substituted by home composting. However, the owner has to provide evidence that they maintain a home composting site in their garden. As a result, in rural areas, with predominantly houses with gardens, 70 to >80% of the population treat their organic residues via home composting. In other words, only 20 to 30% of the population is served by the local authority separate collection scheme in rural areas. This, of course, has a significant impact on collection and treatment capacities and costs respectively. An important issue must be considered for home composting: The requirement for Intensive and continuous awareness campaigns highlighting environmental benefits (reduced transport and treatment capacities needed, substitution of peat and commercial fertiliser in home gardening etc.) as well as the financial savings to households who carry out home composting in lieu of using the brown bin. However, after a while some people who don t have enough conviction give up home composting. Since home composting is the most prominent form of decentralised composting, an area with 100% home composting would represent the best possible performance of a decentralised concept. Sometimes, in rural areas with extremely remote dwellings, (less than 500 to 1000 inhabitants; prdominantly agricultural structure) implementing a brown bin collection system is not reasonably viable, and promotion of home composting is considered to be the only and best alternative. It is estimated that a 4 person household can divert 220 to 280 kg of food and garden/park waste from landfill, by home composting. This figure depends upon two factors; The size of the garden; typically 5 to 10 kg /m 2 of garden/park waste is generated by the average garden. However this figure depends on the type of garden vegetation and the frequency of garden maintenance. The amount of food waste produced per household depends on the social and economic situation of that household, number of persons, daily activities of households etc. In average, for Austria it is estimated that between 50 to 60% of the total organic food and garden wate potential is recycled via home composting. Figure 2. The backyard compost heap the heart of a sustainable managed garden and contributing substantially to waste PREVENTION 4

7 Shredder service for bulky garden/park waste One important measure to encourage garden owners to start and maintain their home composting activities of bulky garden/park waste is the support of a shredding service. Wellshredded bush and tree cuttings are an extremely valuable source material for composting. A shredding service offered by the local authority/waste collector for a district is a very effective tool in order help to recycle bulky garden and park organic waste in the best-suited way. It may be offered free 2 to 4 times a year at fixed dates (or it may be ordered and charged on an individual basis). The garden owner can decide if the chopped material would be kept or taken away to a central composting plant/local civic amenity centre. Figure 3. Shredder service for bulky garden waste / branches The shredder material may remain in the garden or can be transported to the local composting plant. 1.2 Community Composting Following home composting, community composting can be defined as decentralised composting because it fulfils the proximity principle of recycling small amounts of organic waste close to the source where it was generated. The Community Composting Network 2 in Sheffield UK provides the following basic definition: The community composting sector is very diverse. Projects range in scale from individuals or small groups working on allotment sites or promoting home composting, to social enterprises with Local Authority contracts providing kerbside collection services. The local community is involved principally in the management of the organic waste they are producing and are notfor-profit and locally accountable organisations. The list of environmental and social benefits of Community Composting shows, at the very least, that it encourages: Reduction of waste going to landfill or incineration; Reduction of peat use, thereby preserving internationally important peatland natural habitats; 2 [29/11/2008] 5

8 Provision of training, employment, volunteering opportunities as well as education and awareness raising; Topsoil structure preservation and improvement; Diminishing the consumption of mineral fertiliser; Utilising the proximity principle to convert a locally arising waste problem into a locally available resource and Taps grassroots enthusiasm from within the community. Community composting initiative, Devon, On-site Composting On-site composting is characterised by being restricted to materials, which originate from the same premise where the compost is produced and used (e.g. hotels, schools & prisons). Hence, it follows the same principle, as home composting, however, the responsible body is not a private person but a public, commercial, agricultural or a non-profit organisation. On site composting fulfils the proximity principle and should be recognised as a waste prevention measure. In the following Table 2, typical examples of on-site composting schemes are listed by indicating some key features. From an ABP point of view, where catering waste is composted on the premises on which it originates, there are not pigs, ruminants or poultry on the premise and the compost is only used on the land of the premises, therefore ABP approval is not required. This would apply to schools, hospital, hotels and prisons. Type of scheme /premise Tending of public parks and gardens by the parks/garden division of a local authority On-farm composting of manure and agricultural residues Table 2: General description of activity Tending of the public greens of a local authority Collection of garden/park waste and composting at the departments own composting site Use of the compost within the park sites own horticultural activities Composting of crop residues garden/park prunings from maintenance of hedges etc On-site composting schemes Scale 50 to several 1000 m³ /a Depending on intensity of mowing, vegetation period, climate, 8 to 20 litres (= ca. 4 to 10 kg) per m² Includes leaves, grass & prunings Approximately 10 m³ solid manure incl. bedding per livestock unit (LU) per annum Capacity depending on animal keeping, manure Basic technological and management requirements A best practice guide should be developed for local authorities managing garden and park composting sites. Cooperation with neighbouring farms is possible Sufficient agricultural land must be available in order to comply with good 6

9 residues from processing of agricultural products solid and dewatered (segregated) liquid manure, bedding material included Compost is used on own farmland. management, crop residues, processing activities etc agricultural fertilisation rules On-site composting in military camps/barracks, prisons Composting of Canteen (food waste) Garden/park (mowings, prunings) from maintained barrack ground Compost is used on own ground only. Food waste: 3 meals per day 2 litre (= ca. 1,5 kg) per person and week = ca kg per person and year Garden/park waste: depending on intensity of mowing, portion of hedges/trees, vegetation period, climate, irrigation 8 to 20 litres (= ca. 4 to 10 kg) per m² Up to ca 3,000 m³ /a Sufficient park area must be available for compost application On-site composting in holiday camps/villages Composting of Canteen (food waste) Garden/park (mowings, prunings) from maintained areas Compost is used on own ground only Capacity: depends on total garden and park area and number of holiday visitors Food waste: 3 meals per day ca. 0.3 litre (= ca. 0.2 kg) per person and day Garden/park waste: depending on intensity of mowing, portion of hedges/trees, vegetation period, climate, irrigation 8 to 20 litres (= ca. 4 to 10 kg) per m² Sufficient park area must be available for compost application On-site composting of material produced by landscaping and horticulture services Composting of Crop residues from own plantations and ornamental plant production Garden/park waste (mowings, prunings) from park and garden grounds which are managed and maintained by the company Compost is used on own ground or on park and garden ground which is managed by the company Capacity depends on company size Garden/park waste: depending on intensity of mowing, portion of hedges/trees, vegetation period, climate, irrigation 8 to 20 litres (= ca. 4 to 10 kg) per m² Existing quality requirements for compost use in landscaping should be respected. If the company grows horticultural plants the compost could be used in this process or the compost could be used within the landscaping activities done by the company. 1.4 Local Authority Garden/Park Waste Composting Local Authority Garden/Park Waste Composting comprises of the collection and composting of garden and park waste. Garden/park waste is sourced from the tending of public parks and gardens, delivered by private households or commercial users such as landscapers. The collection and composting service is run by the local authority. The compost is mainly used in public gardens and parks, in plantations, transplant, and ornamental plant production facilities owned by the local authority. In addition, the compost can be offered to private and commercial (e.g. landscapers) customers. All local authorities which are involved in the tending of public parks and gardens have their own composting facility to treat the waste arising from parks and gardens. 7

10 Figure 4. Outdoor Windrow Pile of Garden/Park Waste at Cork County Council s Composting Site at Cork County Council s Bandon Civic Amenity Site (Foto: CRÉ, Composting Association of Ireland) 8

11 2. On Farm Composting An Example of a National Decentralised Approach from Austria In Austria, since the 1990 s, the agricultural sector has been a strategic partner in separate collection and composting of organic material. In total there are 425 composting plants, of which 292 (64%) are on-farm decentralised composting plants, which treat 308,000 t (31%) of collected organic waste. The mean throughput of sites is 1,100 t per year which is considerably less than for the industrial compost sector with 5,900 t per year. It is estimated that >35% of the entire compost produced in Austria is used in agriculture. On-farm composting plants use 70 to 90% of the compost they produce on their own agricultural land. 4 and Table 3 give an impression of the distribution of central and decentralised composting, mechanical biological treatment and waste incineration plants in Austria. Figure 5. Spatial distribution of composting plants for OFBMW, in Austria Table 3: Number and throughput of composting plants in Austria: proportion of agricultural, municipal and industrial plants Total composting plants On- farm / agricultural plants Municipal plants Industrial plants Number (64%) 89 (20%) 73 (16%) Total treatment yr ,000 t 308,000 t (32%) 237,300 t (24%) 431,000 t (44%) Average capacity yr -1 2,800 t 1,100 t 2,700 5,900 t The average population served by one composting plant is ca. 14, This is another indicator for the decentralised model. The most decentralised On-Farm composting model has been in developed in upper Austria with 1,4 million inhabitants, 179 composting plants (of which 85% are run by farmers) resulting in 7,800 Inhabitants per composting plant. 3 Here excluding Vienna: 100,000 t of org. household waste from 1.6 million inhabitants are treated in one open windrow composting plant. 9

12 In total Austria has achieved a specific organic waste treatment of 146 kg/ INH*a. which ranks very high as compared to other European countries. It is evident that Austria has successfully implemented the proximity principle in waste management. The strategy for biowaste management followed the premise: As much home composting as possible brown-bin offered wherever home composting is not possible as much decentralised agricultural (on-farm) composting as possible. The main benefits of this strategy were: Farmers identify compost as a high quality product and as a result use it mostly on their own farmland Raising awareness for sustainable soil management, soil protection and the importance of soil organic matter; Simple technology, synergy in the use of existing agricultural machinery and minimum efforts for compost marketing, significantly reduced costs for compost production, and A high level of transparency and traceability in the management of organic waste, results in an overall confidence in the system by the general public. 2.1 On-Farm Composting Cooperation Models in Decentralised Composting There are four different models for the collection and processing of waste in Austria. Figure 5 outlines these models. Agricultural Co-op Model Options For the collection and composting of household organic waste Model 1: Two farmers co-operate as partners carrying out separate collection and composting of organic waste in a rural district with 7,300 Inhabitants. Model 2: 20 farmers as full-scale partners of the municipal waste association of a district (county) in the collection of organic waste and compost it Model 3: Food waste is pre-treated at large central composting plant in the city and then shipped to a co-op of 18 farmers to compost and mature the compost and use the compost on their land Figure 5: Flowchart of Co-op Models for the Collection and Composting of Household Organic Waste in a Decentralised Approach This section provides some examples of cooperative models between farmers, the local authorities, waste associations as well as the provincial Governments in Austria. 10

13 General features of an agricultural composting scheme In most cases, the ACP has a contract with the WMA 4 and is obliged to take over a certain quantity of biowaste and/or garden/park waste if an agreed proportion of impurities (2%) is not exceeded. Gate fees range between 45 and 55 /t for biowaste and 15 and 45 /t per tonne for garden/park waste. The classical model woold contract farmers for composting of bio and green waste. The collection is done either by the municipal services or by another contracted waste collector. Since the composting plants are located close to the settlement ( less than 1 to 5 km) they serve also as collection point for garden waste, delivered by private households, professional landscaping companies and the municipality. In case of predominatntly rural areas also farmers are contracted to carrying out the collection of the bio-bin or bio bucket (depending on the collection scheme adopted). Figure 6 shows typical simple bio-bin and handpicking bio-bucket collection vehicles and devices run by farmers. Figure 6. Simple collection vehicles run and maintained by farmers Cooperation model 1: In this model, two organic farmers co-operate as partners for the separate collection and composting of organic waste in a rural district of a population of 7,300 people. Though the separate collection system is offered to all households in the district, only 20% participate in the system. 80% compost their organic waste on their own property (farms or backyards). One farmer is responsible for the weekly collection, the other one for the composting. The composting plant comprises a 4,800 m² sealed area with a leachate collection system. It uses open windrow composting method and has a total throughput of ~2,400 m³ /a. 4 The Waste Management Associations in Austria are organised on County level. 11

14 The collection trucks were financed by the Municipal Waste Management Association and the municipality respectively (Error! Reference source not found.6). Windrow turners and tractors belong to the farmer. Figure 7. Typical agricultural composting plant with open windrow composting on a paved rotting area with controlled drainage water collection and use. The contract between the farmers and the municipality (city of Hermagor) stipulates that the City retains ownership of the compost and takes back 40% of it for use on local authority greens and to give to citizens in small quantities free of charge. The remaining 60% is used on the farmer s own land or marketed to landscapers and hobby gardeners. Cooperation model 2: 20 farmers as full-scale partners in organic waste collection and composting The County of Freistadt in Upper Austria is mainly a rural area of nearly 100,000 hectares and comprises 27 local authorities with a population of 64,000 people. There are only 2 communities with a population of 6,000 and 8,000 people respectively; all other local authority areas have a population 600 to 3,500 people. In the late 1980 s the a local authority waste association was founded and decided to start a comprehensive recycling programme. The key elements of the waste management included: 24 recycling centres in nearly every municipality which accept 40 different waste types for recycling, located in order easy to access by the population, and a decentralised on-farm composting system. The system for the collection of organic waste and processing in on-farm composting sites created 12 rural jobs, this is one full job per approximately 1,000 t of collected biowaste (food waste bucket scheme) and garden/park waste, collected from 1,800 households. Figures 8 to 11 show photographs of the typical methods of the collection of organic waste and the processing in on of the a on-farm composting sites. 12

15 Figure 8. Food waste buckets and paper bags as well as 100 litre paper bags to collect fine garden/park waste Figure 9. Collection container attached to the back of a tractor Figure 10. Garden/park waste dropped off at a recycling centre Figure 11. Typical on-farm composting site in Austria using open windrow technology with a cover/fleece for first stages of composting 13

16 Cooperation model 3: The city of Graz collaborates with 18 farmers in Styria The city of Graz with a population of 238,000 5 has chosen a unique cooperation model. The local authority of Graz and the surrounding villages is responsible for the collection and pretreatment of organic waste. Initially the source separated food waste and garden/park waste (26,000 t/yr) is treated in a central facility in the City where it is screened, shredded, separated from impurities (plastics, glass and metals), mixed and homogenised. Error! Reference source not found.12 shows the activities at this central facility. The pre-treated raw material for composting is then distributed from the central facility by truck to 18 on-farm decentralised composting plants outside the city. The contracted farmers take in 200 to 3,000t per year. They run an open windrow composting system and provide the necessary machinery (turning and screening machines etc.). On behalf of the organic waste consortium, samples for full scale qualitative approval according to the Austrian Compost Ordinance are taken by an external laboratory once a year at each composting site. Depending on the total compost quantity produced this means that an analysis is made of either each or every 2 nd to 4 th compost batch per plant. Only upon receipt of the laboratory report certifying full compliance with the quality requirements of compost for agricultural use the composts pass into the farmer s possession for use on agricultural land or further marketing. An external Quality Assurance Organisation carries out 2-4 inspections per year, controlling all further QM requirements of the Compost Ordinance and the internal agreements. Both parties provide full documentation and records according to legal requirements (Compost Ordinance). This also covers the standard hygiene and process requirements relative to the Austrian guideline The State of the Art of Composting for catering waste as well as the Austrian ABP Ordinance for former foodstuff and other Category 3 materials. Figure 12. Pre-treatment mixing and homogenisation and loading on truck of raw materials at the central waste management of the City of Graz 5 Together with suburbs participating in the separate collection system the waste service covers 356,000 inhabitants. 14

17 Figure 13: Delivery and treatment of readily pre-treated raw compost in open windrow agricultural composting plants 2.2 Summary of Decentralised Composting and evaluation of the model of suitable for Bulgaria In summary the term decentralised composting can be applied to a wide range of situations such as home composting, on site composting at a hotel and on farm and municipal composting plants. For the Austrian situation, home composting plays an important role in the management of organic waste. Where people decide not to use home composting, citizens in Austria have the option to manage their food waste by using a brown bin or food waste bucket (30 litre size) collection service and manage their garden/park waste using a paper bag or delivering it themselves to the local composting plant or civic amenity centre. Apart from large scale central composting plant in Austria, the main form of treating the food waste and garden/park waste in Austria is at small scale on-farm or municipal composting plants with a processing capacity of 300 to 5,000 tons (in average ca. 1,000 tons) per year. The main form of composting technology used is open windrow with a cover/fleece. This is a low cost technology that is considerably cheaper than in-vessel technology and achieves high quality standards of the compost due the implementation of full scale Quality Assurance Scheme by the Austrian Compost and Biogas Association. The majority (70-90%) of compost produced at these plants is used by the farmers on their own agricultural land. This technology is considered compliant (with waste licensing based on the Austrian Compost Ordinance and the Guideline State of the art of composting) with the national Animal by Product Regulations. For tentative analysis if the decentralised composting scheme could be transferred to Bulgaria (Table 1) we included an additional cooperation model (2a) where 3 to ca. 5 farmers evenly distributed in the district receive the source separated organic food and 15

18 garden waste from the entire Waste Management District in an alternating rhythm (ca. every 2 to 4 months) for composting. In this case bulky garden waste (bush and tree cuttings, big branches) are received mainly from the surrounding settlements where the individual composting plant is located. The bio-bin collection is done by the municipalities or contracted waste collection companies. Important pre-requisite for implementing a decentralised on-farm cooperation model in Bulgaria would need to adopt national rules for processing ABPR Catering waste and processed former foodstuff which allow for open windrow composting in a similar way as it was successfully and done in Austria and in full compliance with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) N0 1069/2009. A respective proposal as part of the Bulgarian Compost Ordinance as well as technical standards for processing and monitoring as part of the Quality Management System for Compost Plants will be provided In STAGE II (Compost Ordinance) and STAGE III (Technical requirements of Composting Plants). Table 1. Analysis of the Austrian Collection Models for the Bulgarian Situation Model 1- Two farmers co-operate as partners carrying out separate collection and composting of organic waste 2-20 farmers as full-scale partners of the municipal waste association of a district (county) who collect the organic waste and compost it 2a- 3 to ca. 5 farmers evenly distributed in the district receive the source separated organic food and garden waste from the entire Waste Management District in an alternating rhythm (ca. every 2 to 4 Months) for composting. Collection is done by the municipalities or contracted waste collection companies. 3- Food waste / green waste / biobin biowaste is pre-treated at large central composting plant in the city and then shipped to a co-op of 18 farmers to compost and mature the compost and use the compost on their land Would this Model Work in Bulgaria? Yes. Predominantly in rural areas for villages with populations of less than ca. 8,000 to 10,000 Inhabitants Yes. Predominantly in rural areas for villages with populations of less than ca. 8,000 to 10,000Inhabitants Yes. For all scales of population. Prferably with settlements less than 25,000. Definition of cathment areas and distance to composting plants to be considered in order to optimise collection routes and transport to facilities. Yes. For municipalities of > 100,000 Inhabitants. Total pre-treatment capacity from ca. 15,000 tons. 16

19 2.3 Analysis of the Austrian Decentralised Composting Open Windrow Technology for the Bulgarian situation This section will examine the typical windrow technology used in the Austrian decentralised system and compare it to the Bulgarian situation (Table 2). Table 2. Analysis of the Austrian Decentralised Composting Open Windrow Technology for the Bulgarian situation Item Austria Bulgaria Waste Permit to required? ABP requirements 6 Validation of composting plant Feedstock reception Time/temperature regime Yes, from the moment they treat waste as listed in the Austrian waste catalogue and in compliance with the Austrian Compost Ordinance No, general rules depending on type of ABP treated (catering waste from households are exempt from the scope of the Austrian ABP ordinance 2008; catering waste from central kitchens, former foodstuff, other Category 3 materials Catering waste: open reception but immediate or 24 hrs processing demand Catering waste, former foodstuff not in contact with raw former foodstuff (raw meat): 6 Process standards with temperatures ranging from > 55 to >65 C and duration ranging from days. 2 5 turnings is required in open windrows systems. Yes, a RIEW waste permit is required for facilities treating waste for recycling or recovery No validation rules for processing of catering waste in composting plants are implemented. General minimum requirements for process management and process monitoring should be established in the Compost Ordinance and the Technical Requirements for Compost Plants Feedstock has to accepted within a closed building. No specific rules are established until now making use of the possibility of national treatment standards for CAT. 3 catering waste and processed former foodstuff pursuant to Article 15 of the EU ABP Regulation. Maximum particle size Closed reactor or open windrows Other Category 3 materials: Standard process: 70 C for 1 hour at max particle size of 12 mm No requirements for catering waste and former foodstuff Open windrow No specific rules are established until now making use of the possibility of national treatment standards for CAT. 3 catering waste and processed former foodstuff pursuant to Article 15 of the EU ABP Regulation. No national standards available; they will be established in Technical Requirements for Compost Plants (STAGE III) 6 A general interpretation that composting plants which treat catering waste from households or central kitchens automatically need a hygienisation phase in a closed composting system is not a binding provision of the EU Animal By-Products regulation itself. This can be seen from the many diverging regulations applied in other Member States. See also STAGE I, Part I EU Acquis Report Chapter

20 Final product testing Other Item Austria Bulgaria Waiting period for grazing/harvesting after spreading compost on land Salmonella and E. coli; Nr. of testing (sampling) dependent on quantity of compost Best practice for composting is described in the Austrian Guidance document The State of the Art of Composting No waiting period for compost from catering waste. 21 days grazing and herbage harvesting period ban for all farmed animals in the case of applying all other types of compost from other category 3 materials. No national standards available; they will be established in Compost Ordinance (STAGE II) No national standards available; they will be established in Technical Requirements for Compost Plants (STAGE III) Following the EU ABP Regulation, after spreading compost on land there is a 21 days grazing period ban for ruminants Use of Compost Large areas of agricultural land Yes, there is large portion of land in Bulgaria under tillage production which would take up Compost QAS Specifically on-farm composting is contracted to an external Quality Assurance System; this examines operation as well as final product quality including all aspects of record keeping and documentation pursuant to the Austrian Compost Ordinance and the Austrian Standard S2206 on Quality Assurance System for Composting Plants. A Compost QAS has to be developed and shall be obliged by the Compost Ordinance. Table 2 shows that in Bulgaria there exist in principle no legal or strategic framework conditions which would conflict with rolling out the typical technology of open windrow composting even for the treatment of household and restaurant food waste as well as ABP Cat. 3 processed former food stuff. 3. Conclusions Home composting plays an important role in the management of organic waste. Home composting should be encouraged in Bulgaria, in particular in rural areas and in semiurban neighbourhoods with large gardens. Where people decide not to use home composting, the general public in Bulgaria should have the option to 1. manage their food waste by using a brown bin or food waste bucket (30 litre size) collection service and 2. manage their garden/park waste using a paper bag (fine garden waste, grass, leaves) or delivering it themselves to the local composting plant or civic amenity centre or as with other models, allow collectors to provide paid collection of small quantities of garden/park waste. The various collection models used in Austria to collect organic waste could work in Bulgaria, however specific standard procedures and technical requirements need to be addressed in the envisaged Compost Ordinance und the National guideline Technical requirements for Composting Plants. 18

21 Acronyms and annotation a year (L.) annum ABP Animal By-Products ABPR Animal By-Products Regulation (European Commission Nº 1774/2002) ACBA Austrian Compost and Biogas Association (Austria) ACP Agricultural Composting Plants AD Anaerobic Digestion AgrC Agricultural Composting BAT Best Available Technique BMW Biodegradable Municipal Waste C Celsius/centigrade CA Civic Amenity [recycling centre] ca. about, approximately, (L.) circa e.g. for example, (L.) exempli gratia EC European Communities et al. and others, (L.) et alii etc. and so on, in similar respects, (L.) et cetera EU European Union FLG Federal law gazette (Austria) G&P Garden and Park [waste ; compost] HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point HH Households i.e. that is [to say], (L.) id est km kilometre m 2 square metre m 3 cubic metre MBT Mechanical Biological Treatment MS Member State(s) [of the European Union] MSW Municipal Solid Waste n.a. not available OC Organic Carbon OM Organic Matter PAYT Pay-as-you-throw QAO Quality Assurance Organisation QAS Quality Assurance System QM Quality Management t tonne (metric 1,000 kgs) / ton (imperial) t/a tonnes per annum WFD Waste Framework Directive WMA Waste Management Association (Austria) WWTP Waste Water Treatment Plant 19