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 CO2

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 CO2 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 chartMass balance VFG waste Maastricht 2004

iron

OM loss44,9%

particles 50+0,3%

0,9%

sifter

residue2,2% 1,2%

50,5%

Iron

Lost of heating44,9%

particles 50+0,3%

residu1,2%

recirculation

shredding

magnet

composting

sieving 50 mm fraction 50 + hard fraction separator sifter magnet

fraction 0-50

sieving 18 mm fraction 18-50 hard fraction separator sifter particles 18-50

fraction 0-18

sieving 10 mm fraction 10-18 hard fraction separator compost 10-18

compost 0-10 hard fraction

after processingcompost 0-18

VFG waste

Photographs compost plant in Maastricht

Production results

• Primary products:

• Soil improvers product certificate German BGK

• Peat substitutes conform RHP guidelines• Secondary products:

• Biomass green energy Tunka®, 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 CO2 burdening artificial fertilizer

production, through nutrient value compost• Total reduction Dutch kitchen & garden waste sector is

> around 65,000 tons CO2 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 manure 0

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 yields Not 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 CO2-emission each year (compared to the ‘next best alternative’)

• Together with the green composting sector this represents 100-125 kilo tons CO2 per year, corresponding to around 1% of the aimed total Dutch reduction

• Extra CO2-emission reduction via composting instead of incineration route

• Optimal management of composting installations increases CO2-yield

• Potential CO2-emission reduction needs Biowaste Directative.

ConclusionCentral 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 CO2 emission reduction

• Targets landfill directative are supported by compost plants.

• To facilate targets of landfill directative and CO2 reduction the biowaste directative is necessary

Thank you for your attention!