1 Introduction and organic waste situation

update May 2010

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In Germany, source separation of organic residues from households, gardens and parks (= biowaste) is one of the main measures in waste management. For the moment 8,2 million tons are collected separately. The whole potential of organic raw material amounts up to 12,9 million tons. In 320 biological treatment facilities 3,85 million tons of separately collected biowaste from households in biobins is treated. Additionally 1.133 treatment plants for separately collected green-waste (park- and garden waste) are in place, which treat 4,4 million tons of green-waste (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2010)
Today, the participation in source separation of biowaste is up to 80 of all the inhabitants, depending on the region. It is not 100 % because not all German municipalities decided to establish separate biowaste collection. 68,7 % ot the total area of Germany is covered by separate collection via biobins (BGK/VHE, 2009)

Composting
Between 1990 and 2007 the number of composting plants in Germany amounts to approx. 980 with a total treatment capacity of around 10 Mio t of biowaste. These 980 composting plants are producing approx. 4 to 5 million tons of compost products. The growth rate of composting plants decreased during the last years on account of a considerable stagnation of source separated biowastes. Changes in disposal systems and fees are responsible for the stagnation.
Around 70 % of the total amount of biodegradable waste (5.8 million tons) is treated in in 434 composting plants, which take part in the voluntary quality assurance system for compost and digestion residuals of the German Compost Quality Assurance Organisation BGK. These composting plants process 80 % of the separately collected biowaste by bio-bins.

Anaerobic digestion
The number of anaerobic digestion plants treating biowaste amounts to approx. 650. 99 digestion plants, digestating 2,4 million tons of biowaste, join the voluntary quality assurance system for digestate of the German Quality Assurance Organisation BGK. Most of these anaerobic digestion plants use agricultural waste like manure in combination with biowaste.

Regarding the treatment of biowaste in Germany under quality control by BGK 83 % (2,95 million tons)of the input materials are composted, 12 % (0,43 million tons) are digestated with post-composting and only 5 % (0,15 million tons) are processed in digestate plants without post-composting.

 

Figure 1: Development of the quality assured biodegradable waste management in Germany.

Biological-mechanical Pre-treatment
In order to save landfilling capacity and to meet the requirements of the TA Siedlungsabfall (max. 5 % organics in waste for landfilling) plants are built in Germany to reduce the organic content in the residual waste with pre-treatment composting or digestion technologies. In 2008 around 51 pre-treatment plants process 3,9 Mio. t of waste (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2010)

2 Legal framework for the organic waste stream and compost production

Act for Promoting Closed Loop Waste Management (Kreislaufwirtschafts- and Abfallgesetz - KrW-/AbfG 1994)
 
The requirements and the processes of modern waste management are defined in the Act for Promoting Closed Loop Waste Management from 27 September 1994, which came into force in October 1996 and covers the avoidance, use and disposal of waste. The purpose of the law is to support closed-loop waste management for the protection of natural resources and the assurance of environmentally appropriate disposal of waste. The KrW-/AbfG is implemented via ordinances for different waste material groups, e.g. for electronic waste or for packaging material or for biocompost/secondary organic raw material. The KrW-/AbfG is under revision. The proposal of the new Act for Promoting Closed Loop Management (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz – KrWG) for the implementation of the revised EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD, 2008) includes the obligation of separate collection of biodegradable waste until the 1st January 2015. To promote the material recovery of biodegradable waste biowaste according to the waste hierarchy, a heating value of 11 MJ/kg for biowaste is included. Biowaste with a heating value below 11 MJ/kg biowaste shall be recycled materially.

Federal Immission Protection Law (BImSchV 2001)
Includes the permit obligation and the requirements for the technology and operation among others for biowaste treatment plants and targets to avoid harmful impacts (e.g. odours) on the environment.

Biowaste Ordinance (BioAbfV 1998)
The Biowaste Ordinance (BioAbfV) of 1998 covers the application of treated and untreated bio-wastes and mixtures on land which is used for agricultural, silvicultural and horticultural purposes. It also covers suitable raw materials, quality and hygiene requirements, and treatment and investigations of such bio-wastes and mixtures. The Biowaste Ordinance regulates – from a precautionary perspective – the waste side (e.g. heavy metals) of the application, whereas the fertiliser law regulates the nutrient part. In 2010 the revision of the Biowaste Ordinance is expected. Changes are included for the hygienisation requirements in respect to aerob and anaerobic treatment of biowaste.

Fertiliser Law (DüV 2007)
Gives the frame for the good code of practice of fertilising and shows special requirements for organic fertilisers. It includes the restrictions for the application of fertilisers with essential nitrogen contents in winter periods.

Fertiliser Ordinance (Düngemittelverordnung DüMV 2008)
Together with the revision of the law of fertilisers, compost from biodegradable household waste is subject to the fertiliser ordinance as a secondary raw material fertiliser (or seldom as soil improving agent). A spreading of secondary raw material fertiliser will be only possible on agricultural areas if (a) the demands of the Biowaste Ordinance are fulfilled, and (b) the legal standards – here for a secondary raw material fertiliser – are met. A declaration of the fertiliser type, raw material, nutrients and other product properties is obligatory. From 2017 the treshold values for contaminants, included in the Fertiliser Ordinance for biowaste and sewage sludge, are obligatory.

Federal Soil Protection Law  (BBodSchG 1998/BBodSchV 1999)
Ensures the soil function and gives among others precautionary requirements for the contamination of soils. The soil protection law is relevant for the application of compost for landscaping and recultivation.

Animal-by Products Regulation (EU 1774/ TierNebV)
In Germany the Animal-by Products Regulation is implemented by specific regulations in respect to the different input material groups:

1. Group: Kitchen and catering waste (biobin materials and commercial kitchen and catering waste)
   For this group does apply the TierNebV, that means that the requirements of the treatment of these materials have to fulfil the requirements of the Biowaste Ordinance. The materials have to be collected and stored separately.
2. Group: Other catogory 3 materials for composting, these are essentially wool, bristles, feathers, eggshells, horn substances etc.. For these materials the ABPR does apply, this means pasteurisation of the materials (70°C; 1h) and the production plant has to been approved under ABPR.
3. Group: Manure and gastrointestinal substances
   Current there are no requirements in place.

Further important aspects of these material groups:

1. Commercial kitchen and catering waste and superposed animal foodstuff have to been treated anaerobically in respect to the fertiliser law
2. Further categorie 2 materials are not allowed for the application on soil in respect to fertiliser law.
3. Slaughter by-products can not be processed to fertiliser.
4. Animal materials from the waste water treatment like grease separator of the foodstuff industry does apply to the Biowaste Ordinance.

Renewable Energy Law (EEG 2004)
Promote the technology and the production of renewable energy which support the development of anaerobic digestion of organic waste.

Table 1: Relevant regulations for the application of compost

Type of regulation & validity [national / provincial / standard]		Legislation title & n° [in English ]	Requirements or restriction  for the use of compost
			agricultural use
1)	Closed Substance Cycle and Waste Management Act national	Ordinance on Biowaste (BioAbfV 1998)	Type 1 application rate 20 tonnes dry matter per ha in 3 years Type 2 application rate 30 tonnes dry matter per ha in 3 years Application of biowastes and mixtures to soils used for silvicultural purposes shall only be permissible in justified exceptional cases, after obtaining prior permission from the competent authority in agreement with the forestry authority responsible. Any treated biowastes and mixtures applied on field forage or field vegetable crops shall be worked into the surface prior to the commencement of cropping. Application on permanent grassland shall be limited to those types of biowastes in treated or untreated form and mixtures of biowastes, which are specifically listed in Annex 1 No. 1 column 3 (see table B).
2)	Fertiliser Law	Fertiliser ordinance (DüMV, 2003)	Compost from biodegradable wastes are declared according to the Fertiliser Ordinance (DüMV) as secondary raw material fertiliser or soil improving agent. The application of compost from biodegradable wastes is only possible on agricultural areas if (a) the demands of the Biowaste Ordinance are fulfilled, and (b) the legal standards – here for a secondary raw material fertiliser or soil improving agents – are met. A declaration of the fertiliser type, raw material, nutrients and other product properties is obligatory. The requirements on good agricultural practice of the fertiliser law (DüV) must be fulfilled.
			non food or agricultural area (landscaping and recultivation)
3)	Soil protection law	Soil protection ordinance (BBodSchV, 1999)	Regulating the application of compost for landscaping and recultivation purposes. Application rates according to different uses: Turfs: 65 t dm compost per hectare one time application Groves and shrubs: 30 t compost dm per hectare one time application Landscaping turfs: 20 t compost dm per hectare one time application Landscaping shrubs and for planting vegetation on landscaping buildings: 10 t compost dm per hectare Agricultural recultivation: 65 t dm compost per hectare one time application Silvicultural recultivation: 20 t dm compost per hectare one time application

3 Quality Assurance

On account of the very bad mixed waste compost image in the late eighties the German recycling industry started a quality initiative in composting which led to the foundation of the German Compost Quality Assurance Organisation (Bundesgütegemeinschaft Kompost BGK) in 1989. This BGK organisation is the carrier of the RAL quality labels for compost, digestate and sewage sludge. It is recognised by the RAL, the German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification, as being the organisation to handle monitoring and controlling of the quality of compost, digestate and humus products of sewage sludge in Germany.

In 1991 a quality standard, a quality label and the RAL quality monitoring system for the composting of source separated organic residues from households and gardens was established (RAL GZ 251). In 2000 an additional quality assurance system for digestion residuals (RAL GZ 256) was introduced. With the revision in 2007 the digestate products are divided into two product groups for digestion residuals according to the input materials: the RAL GZ 245 for digestion products and the RAL GZ 246 for digestion products produced from renewable energy materials. The RAL GZ 258 for AS Humus (sewage sludge compost) was introduced in 2003. In 2009 the BGK has indroduced a qaulity assurance scheme for recycling of sewage sludge in respect to fertilisation purposes with the RAL GZ 247 for AS Düngung (sewage sludge for fertilisation).
The Compost Quality Assurance Organisation was founded in order to monitor the quality of secondary raw materials from biodegradable waste. Through consistent quality control and support of the compost producers in the marketing and application sectors, the organisation aims to promote composting as a key element of modern recycling management.

The BGK works through regional compost quality assurance organisations. These regional quality assurance organisations are made up of ordinary members – the compost producers – and extraordinary members or promoters, amongst whom are those interested in composting, for example representatives from analytical laboratories, authorities, industry, science and local authorities. Today there are more than 500 members in this organisation, and 433 composting plants, 99 digestion plants, 8 digestion plants for renewable energy plants, 14 composting plants for sewage sludge compost and 1 sewage sludge treatment plant take part in the quality assurance system and have applied for the RAL quality label.

Figure 2: Biodegradable waste management plants of the German Quality Assurance Organisation BGK

Besides the central office which oversees activities, a quality committee works as the main supervision and expert body in the quality assurance system. It controls the results of analysis and decides upon necessary measures. It is composed of representatives from research, laboratories, producers, compost users and authorities. The German Quality assurance Organisation of Compost (BGK) runs a database with all indicators of the composting plants and analyses results of the products. The database includes more than 35.000 data.

Figure 3: Course of Quality Assurance by BGK

Quality requirements and monitoring system by BGK
The BGK has defined a general quality standard (the RAL quality label for compost, for digestion residuals and sewage sludge compost) and established a nationwide system for external monitoring of composting and digestion plants and of compost and digestion products.
The quality assurance program contains the definition of quality requirements, enables quality monitoring, and can enforce quality standards or discipline plants for failure to meet regulations and the labelling of the quality standard. The type, extent and frequency of evaluations depend on the capacity of the composting or digestion plant. In order to guarantee an identical standard for the monitoring all over Germany, BGK established a central office where all results originated from external monitoring are evaluated and controlled.
The quality assurance system comprises the following elements:

1. External monitoring: continuous and independent control of product quality;
2. Internal monitoring: control and documentation of the treatment process by the plants;
3. Quality criteria: standardisation of the product quality;
4. Quality label: characterisation of the product quality;
5. Compulsory declaration: description of the essential product characteristics and constituents;
6. Application guidelines: information on correct application;
7. Furnishing proof and the documents required by the plants to show treatment according to the Biowaste and Fertiliser Ordinance to the regional competent authorities.

Main elements of the BGK QAS are:
Suitable Input Materials

1. in accordance with the biowaste ordinance and fertiliser regulation.
2. operation control by plant visits of independent quality managers.
3. control by independent sample takers and by declaration in analysis report.

Independent analysis and declaration of the product quality

1. 4 - 12 times a year according to the quality guidelines, depends on the amount of input material.
2. control and sanctions by an independent quality committee.
3. certification with product declaration according to the fertiliser regulation

Application requirements

1. Application requirements based on the biowaste ordinance and fertiliser regulation.
2. Application requirements due to good practical use.

Hygiene requirements
In Germany considerable attention is directed towards the hygiene and sanitisation of compost. Harmful influences on human beings, animals and plants which may arise when compost is applied, should be eliminated during the biological treatment process. Three test methods are required by the Biowaste Ordinance for composting plants:

1. The hygienic effectiveness of the individual composting procedure is determined by a process test. As an alternative a proof on conformity can be executed by the BGK and the modular hygiene test system (BGK, 2010).
2. Indirect test criteria on hygiene effectiveness for a plant in practical operation are the daily temperature recording and documentation (>55 °C for more than 2 weeks, > 65°C for more than one week) or for in-vessel plants (>60°C for more than one week).
3. Saleable compost products are tested for phyto-pathogenic organisms and plant seeds.

Testing procedure for the RAL quality labels
Authorisation to use the RAL compost quality label is granted in accordance with the quality and testing regulations of the German Compost Quality Assurance Organisation, BGK. The compost producer must demonstrate the quality of their products for every compost plant they have in operation, throughout the first year’s recognition procedure and the following years’ monitoring procedure.

Recognition and monitoring procedure
The frequency of the investigations during the one year recognition procedure and the subsequent ongoing monitoring procedure depends on the plant input capacity. At least four inspections should be carried out during the first year of operation – one for every season – to assess the essential quality characteristics over the course of the year. At least one sample should be taken every three months. In the following years, when the plant is working normally, it is possible to reduce the frequency and scale of inspection. Sampling and investigations should be done by an approved outside monitor – usually a laboratory which does the sample taking and the analyses – in line with the procedures laid down by the Quality Committee of the BGK. The Quality Committee of the BGK has issued specifications for high-quality composts and quality digestates. The quality labels represent these specifications. This allows a standardisation of quality and enhances the product’s sales image. The labels awarded by the BGK also mean that there are regular checks by independent bodies to ensure that product quality is maintained after the label has been awarded. The up-to-date quality criteria and directives of the Bundesgütegemeinschaft Kompost are the basis for the awarding of the RAL quality labels to treatment plants. The RAL quality criteria are valid for the different product types (Table 2).

Together with the Biowaste Ordinance (BioAbfV) of October 1998 a multitude of obligations on a proof of investigation and validation has been introduced which are to be executed by the compost plants. The long-standing activities of the BGK for the standardisation, monitoring and declaration of high quality humus products lead to an acknowledgement of these measurements by the law maker as "self obligation of the industry". In addition the law making body implicates that the biowaste which is under continuous monitoring by and independent organisation is not a product but "likely a product". So members of the Quality Assurance Organisation which render themselves subject to a voluntary quality monitoring are widely exempted from a control (max. 12 instead of max. 24 analysis/year) and from proof obligation by regional authorities as laid down by the Biowaste Ordinance.

Table 2: Legal and voluntary standards for composts, digestates and sludges in Germany

Definition/Name		Legal or voluntary reference	Description of standard criteria
German	English
Bioabfälle	biowastes	Ordinance on Biowastes BioAbfV 1998 under revision	The ordinance on biowaste regulates the utilisation of biowastes on land used for agricultural, silvicultural and horticultural purposes. Biowaste Ordinance (BioAbfV) from 1998 covers the application of treated and untreated biowastes and mixtures that are applied on agricultural, forest and horticultural land, as well as the suitable raw materials, the quality and hygiene requirements, the treatment processes and analyses of such biowastes and mixtures. Suitable raw materials are listed in annex 1, heavy metal contents, harmful substances, hygiene aspects in para. 4 and annex 2 and sampling and analyses in annex 3. The Biowaste Ordinance regulates - with a precautionary intention - the waste side (e.g. heavy metals) of the application, whereas the Fertiliser Law (Düngemittelverordnung – DüMV) regulates the nutrient part.
Typ 1	Type 1	“	Pb 150, Cd 1.5 Cr 100, Cu 100, Ni 50, Hg 1, Zn 400 [mg per kg dry matter]; application rate 20 tonnes dry matterper ha in 3 years, impurities (glass, plastics and metals with a diameter of 2 mm) ? 0.5 per cent in relation to dry matter, stones (with a diameter > 5 mm) ? 5 per cent in relation to dry matter, viable seeds and reproductive parts of plants ? 2 seeds per liter of substrate, no Salmonellae, declaration of pH value, content of organic matter, salt content, dry matter content
Typ 2	Type 2	“	Pb 100, Cd 1 Cr 70, Cu 70, Ni 35, Hg 0.7, Zn 300 [mg per kg dry matter], application rate 30 tonnes dry matter per ha in 3 years, impurities (glass, plastics and metals with a diameter of 2 mm) ? 0.5 per cent in relation to dry matter, stones (with a diameter > 5 mm) ? 5 per cent in relation to dry matter, viable seeds and reproductive parts of plants ? 2 seeds per liter of substrate, no Salmonellae, declaration of pH value, content of organic matter, salt content, dry matter content
Kompost (Produktgruppe mit verschiedenen Produkttypen)	compost (product group with different product types)	RAL Quality assurance for compost (RAL GZ 251)	additional criteria in respect to BioAbfV, declaration of total nutrient content (N, P2O5, K2O, MgO),soluble nutrient content (N), micro nutrient content, CaO, impurities: if the total content of impurities exceed 0.1 Mass % the visuable content of imupurities does not exceed 25 cm per liter fresh matter
1) Frischkompost	fresh compost	“	organic matter content ? 30 Mass % of dry matter; water content ? 45 Mass %; maturity: stability class II or III determined by self heating test;
2) Fertigkompost	mature compost	“	organic matter content ? 15 Mass % of dry matter; water content ? 45 Mass % for bulk goods and ? 35 Mass % for bagged cargo; maturity: stability class IV or V determined by self heating test; soluble nutrient content P2O5, K2O; parameter for plant response
3) Substratkompost	compost for potting soils	“	organic matter content ? 15 Mass % of dry matter; water content ? 45 Mass % for bulk goods and ? 35 Mass % for bagged cargo; maturity: stability class V determined by self heating test; 3 parameters for plant response; impurities with a diameter > 2 mm 0.5 Mass % in dry matter, impurities with a diameter > 5 mm 0.1 Mass % in dry matter; stones with a diameter > 2 mm 5 Mass % and stones with a diameter > 10 mm 0.5 Mass %, Grade > 50 Vol % with particle sizes 0-5 mm; Grade ? 25 mm; carbonates < 10 % dry matter Type 1: up to 40 Vol %, recommended mixing component in the substrate nutrient content [mg/L]: < 300 NO3-N+NH4-N, < 1.200 P2O5, < 2.000 K2O, < 500 Chlorid, < 250 Na; salt content ? 2.5 g/L Type 2: up to 20 Vol %, recommended mixing component in the substrate nutrient content [mg/L]: < 600 NO3-N+NH4-N, < 2.400 P2O5, < 4.000 K2O, < 1.000 Chlorid, < 500 Na; salt content ?.5 g/L
Gärprodukt (Produktgruppe mit verschiedenen Produkttypen)	Digestate product	RAL Quality assurance for digestate (RAL GZ 245)	additional criteria in respect to BioAbfV, declaration of total nutrient content (N, P2O5, K2O, MgO),soluble nutrient content (N), micro nutrient content, CaO, impurities: if the total content of impurities exceed 0.1 Mass % the visuable content of imupurities does not exceed 25 cm per liter fresh matter, fermentation degree ? 1500 mg organic acids per liter, benefit value index
1) Gärprodukt flüssig	liquid digestate		organic matter content ? 40 mass-% TM
2) Gärprodukt fest	solid digestate		organic matter content ? 30 mass-% TM
NawaRo-Gärproukt (Produktgruppe mit verschiedenen Produkttypen)	digestate product from renewable energy plants	RAL Quality assurance for digestate from renewable energy plants (RAL GZ 246)	additional criteria in respect to DüMV, declaration of total nutrient content (N, P2O5, K2O, MgO),soluble nutrient content (N), micro nutrient content, CaO, impurities: if the total content of impurities exceed 0.1 Mass % the visuable content of imupurities does not exceed 25 cm per liter fresh matter, fermentation degree ? 1500 mg organic acids per liter, benefit value index
NawaRo-Gärprodukt flüssig	liquid digestate product from renewable energy plants		suitable for pumping
NawaRo-Gärprodukt fest	solid digestate product from renewable energy plants		semisolid
Klärschlamm	sewage sludge	Sewage Sludge Ordninance AbfKlärV 1992 under revision	This ordinance must be observed by anyone who (1) operates waste-water treatment plants and surrenders or intends to surrender sewage sludge for application on agriculturally or horticulturally used soils and (2) applies or intends to apply sewage sludge on agriculturally or horticulturally used soils.
AS Humus (Kompost aus Abwasserschlamm)	sewage sludge compost	RAL Quality assurance for sewage sludge compost (RAL GZ 258)	declaration of total nutrient content (N, P2O5, K2O, MgO),soluble nutrient content (N, P2O5, K2O, Mg),  nutrient content, impurities (glass, plastics and metals with a diameter of 2 mm), stones (with a diameter > 5 mm), CaO, maturity, plant response, salt content, viable seeds and reproductive parts of plants, Salmonellae, organic matter content; dry matter content , grade, benefit value index, heavy metals: Pb 300, Cd 3 Cr 100, Cu 400, Ni 50, Hg 2, Zn 1.250 [mg per kg dry matter] organic polutants: AOX, PCN, LAS, PCDD/PCDF, DEHP, NPE, PAK
AS Düngung	sewage sludge for fertilisation	RAL Quality assurance for sewage sludge compost (RAL GZ 247)	declaration of total nutrient content (N, P2O5, K2O, MgO),soluble nutrient content (N, P2O5, K2O, Mg),  nutrient content, impurities (glass, plastics and metals with a diameter of 2 mm), stones (with a diameter > 5 mm), CaO, maturity, plant response, salt content, viable seeds and reproductive parts of plants, Salmonellae, organic matter content; dry matter content , grade, benefit value index, heavy metals: Pb 300, Cd 3 Cr 100, Cu 400, Ni 50, Hg 2, Zn 1.250 [mg per kg dry matter] organic polutants: AOX, PCN, LAS, PCDD/PCDF, DEHP, NPE, PAK

4 Markets of Quality products from biowaste materials

On account of the manifold applications biodegradable waste products are used in quite different fields. Statistical numbers of 2009 show marketing outlets for RAL quality assured compost products (figure 4):
A special field of the above mentioned application areas is agriculture. Round 60 % of the total area in Germany is used by agriculture. Just 3 to 4 % of the arable land could be served with the actually produced amount of compost. On account of this fact agriculture seems to be a potential customer for the recycling of composts and especially for digestates. The plant nutrients contained in composts and other secondary raw material fertilizers like humus and alkaline material show that agricultural utilization is not just possible but furthermore absolutely useful.

Agriculture as a competent consumer is momentarily rare. This depends on the fact that plant nutrients in form of mineral fertilizers and farm manure is available in a high amount. Thus it is not necessary to use fertilizers from secondary raw materials for the moment. However, there are developments and good reasons for a growing appreciation of compost as a soil improving agent in agriculture. Not only the organic substances in compost but also the considerable contents of alkaline material (lime) make compost use in agriculture an increasingly popular and effective means of soil cultivation. As it is postulated in the EU Soil strategy the decline of organic matter in European soils as well as the soil degradation by erosion become more and more important. To improve soil properties by using the stable organic matter of high quality composts is seen as a good way to solve these problems.

Figure 4: Market distribution of compost in Germany 2009

Other areas of application show a more favourable market situation. Those fields compared with agriculture have distinctly smaller areas. But they are provided with a real demand in the sense of a free economy, based on the necessary use of humus which has to be bought as an additional means of soil improving. To be mentioned here especially is the branch of horticulture and landscaping.

Quality Assurance as a marketing tool
The consumer demand for quality assured products is increased in the last ten years potentially. This is reflected in the high amount of product quality labels of the food processing industry. According to this development the demands on the input materials of the foodstuff industry or of agricultural systems growth up. The experience has shown that without a well-established and acknowledged quality assurance system for compost products the market for waste-derived products is turning down. Today in several cropping systems only quality assured compost products are allowed (for example in the sugar beet industry). Furthermore in environmental risk areas (like water protection areas) the demand on controlled fertilisers and soil improvers plays an important role. Quality assured compost products which fulfil the requirements of the EU regulation on organic farming (EU Regulation N0. 834/2007) are listed in the official organic input material list of the research institute for organic farming (FiBL e.V. 2010). 

5 Contacts and sources of information

Bundesgütegemeinschaft Kompost e.V. (BGK)
Mr. Bertram Kehres
Von-der-Wettern Str. 25
51149 Köln-Gremberghoven
Tel: 022 03/358 370
Fax: 022 03/358 37-12
EMail: info@kompost.de
Internet: www.kompost.de

Information:
BGK, 2010: Hygienebaumusterprüfsystem. www.kompost.de/fileadmin/docs/shop/Grundlagen_GS/HBPS__Auflage_4_mit_Deckblatt.doc.pdf
BGK/VHE, 2009:Einführung und Optimierung der getrennten Sammlung zur Nutzbarmachung von Bioabfällen. Handbuch für öffentlich-rechtliche Entsorgungsträger, Abfallbehörden, Entscheidungsträger, Planer und Entsorgungsunternehmen. www.kompost.de/fileadmin/docs/shop/Sonderdrucke/Handbuch_Bioabfallsammlung_06_09.pdf
FiBL, 2010: Betriebsmittelliste 2010 für den ökologischen Landbau in Deutschland. www.betriebsmiitel.org
Statistisches Bundesamt, 2010: Umwelt 2008 – Abfallentsorgung. Vorläufiger Ergebnisbericht. www.destatis.de

Legislation and Guidelines:
BImSchV 2001: Verordnung über Anlagen zur biologischen Behandlung von Abfällen vom 20. Februar 2001
(BGBl. I S. 317), die durch Artikel 3 der Verordnung vom 27. April 2009 (BGBl. I S.900) geändert worden ist. www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/bimschv_30/gesamt.pdf
Biowaste Ordinance (BioAbfV), Ordinance about the utilisation of biowastes on soils used in agriculture, forestry and gardening as of September 21, 1998, Federal Law Gazette I page 2955, last amended through article 5 V as of 10/20/06, Federal Law Gazette I page 2298.
Federal Law on Soil Protection (BBodSchG), Law for the protection against harmful structural changes of the soil and for the remediation of contaminated land as of 03/17/98, Federal Law Gazette I page 502, last amended through article 3 G as of 12/09/04, Federal Law Gazette I page 3214.
Federal Law on Soil Protection (BBodSchG), Federal Law on Soil Protection and Contaminated Land Ordinance as of 07/12/19999. Federal Law Gazette I page 1554, last amended through article 2 V as of 12/23/2004, Federal Law Gazette I page 3758.
Loop Management and Waste Law (KrW- / AbfG) for the promotion of environmentally friendly disposal of wastes from 09/27/07, Federal Law Gazette I page 2705, last amended through article 2 G as of 07/19/07, Federal Law Gazette I page 1462. under revision
Fertiliser Law (DüV), Düngeverordnung 2006 - Ordinance about the application of fertilisers, soil additives, growing media and plant additives in accordance to good practice. Federal Law Gazette I p.221. www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/d_v/gesamt.pdf
Fertiliser Ordinance (DüMV), Düngemittelverordnung 2008 - Ordinance about the placing of fertilisers, soil additives, growing media and plant additives on the market. Federal Law Gazette I p- 2524. www.ges etze-im-nternet.de/bundesrecht/d_mv_2008/gesamt.pdf
Quality Standards for Compost, Quality Assurance RAL-Quality Label 251, Issue 2007. RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labelling e.V., Sankt Augustin. www.kompost.de
Quality Standards for Digestate, Quality Assurance RAL-Quality Label 245, Issue 2007. RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labelling e.V., Sankt Augustin. www.kompost.de
Quality Standards for NawaRo-Digestate, Quality Assurance RAL-Quality Label 246, Issue 2007. RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labelling e.V., Sankt Augustin. www.kompost.de
Quality Standards for Ferilisation, Quality Assurance RAL-Quality Label 247, Issue 2010. RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labelling e.V., Sankt Augustin.www.kompost.de
Quality Standards for Sewage Sludge Compost, Quality Assurance RAL-Quality Label 258, Issue 2007. RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labelling e.V., Sankt Augustin. www.kompost.de
TierNebV 2006, "Tierische Nebenprodukte-Beseitigungsverordnung vom 27. Juli 2006 (BGBl. I S. 1735),
die zuletzt durch Artikel 19 des Gesetzes vom 31. Juli 2009 (BGBl. I S. 2585) geändert worden ist. www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/tiernebv/gesamt.pdf