EUROPEAN COMPOST NETWORK
ECN e.V.

Network for Organic Resources and Biological Treatment

ECN E-BULLETIN No. 9_2022

11 August 2022

New Policy Officer Riccardo Gambini

The ECN welcomes its new Policy Officer

Riccardo Gambini comes from Milan, Italy, where he took his master's degree in International relations with a focus on European affairs. He also holds a second master degree on Environmental economics and management of natural resources. He has previously worked as a Schumann trainee at the European parliament, as well as an Erasmus trainee at the Italian chamber of commerce in Madrid during his studies. During his last professional experience, Riccardo worked as a policy adviser for a business association located in Brussels where he developed experience in policy analysis and advocacy.

Riccardo speaks fluenlty Italian, English and Spanish and he also speaks French. He is deeply interested in environmental and european policy issues. Riccardo is looking foward to working for the ECN and its members.

EU Commission I Public consultation on Soil Health Law I Deadline: 24th October 2022

Commission launches consultation for an EU Soil Health Law aiming at the protection, sustainable use and restoration of soils

As part of its consultation strategy, the Commission opened a public consultation on a possible EU Soil Health Law, which has as its objective the protection, the restoration and the sustainable use of European soils. The Commission is asking for feedbacks to be submitted before October 24 and will take into consideration all the inputs to refine this initiative.

The Soil Health Law is part of the action plan developed under the Soil Strategy 2030, which sets out a framework of measures to tackle soil related issues and it is marked as a key deliverable of the broader Biodiversity Strategy 2030, contributing to the objectives of the EU Green deal. In particular, the legal framework on soil health will address the bad physical, chemical and biological condition of soils, and the main drivers leading to soil degradation.

The ECN is welcoming the opportunity to comment on the initiative and would appreciate your participation in the consultation put forward by the Commission. The task group on soil organic matter of the ECN will also prepare a position paper on the beneficial effects that organic waste derived soil improvers can bring to soil according to soil health indicators, to be discussed during a dedicated meeting taking place in September.

The consultation page can be accessed here!

Click here to read the ECNs Impact Assessment on the Soil Health Law!

EU Commission I Questionnaire on Nutrient Management Plan I Deadline: 26th August

Commission is collecting final inputs as period of consultation on an Integrated Nutrient Management Plan approaches its end

The consultation period on a proposed action plan for better nutrient management is coming to an end, as the Commission is asking for final feedbacks by August 26. The initiative complements the Zero Pollution Action Plan for air, water and soil contained in the Circular Economy Action plan, which is one of the main blocks of the EU Green Deal.

The aim of the nutrient management action plan is to reduce nutrient losses and to bring the level of nitrogen and phosphorus in the environment back to safe planetary boundaries in Europe, as well as to maintain fertility in soils. This in turn will contribute to the achievement of the European Climate Law objectives and the 2030 target of the biodiversity and farm to fork strategies.

ECN already submitted its feedback during the consultation following the call for evidence, highlighting the benefits of recycled nutrients from compost and digestate, and stressing the fundamental role that bio-waste and organic matter plays in sustainable agriculture and horticulture. ECN therefore calls for a more prominent inclusion of compost and digestate in the forthcoming communication. ECN full answer to the consultation can be found here.

As a next step, we will now prepare a response and fill in the Commission´s questionnaire before the deadline. The Communication is set to be adopted by the Commission before the end of 2022.

Click here to access the survey!

Announcements

ICAW Contests I 1 September - 1 November 2023

Start of the ICAW Poster and Video Contests

Each year, the organization that runs International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) in the US offers two contests. One is a poster contest which is open to anyone in the world to enter age 14 or older. The other is a video contest for ages 10 – 13, that too is an international contest. Prizes are given to both winners.

The winning poster design and the video are both used to help promote ICAW and the theme for 2023, which is For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost! The theme highlights how compost can have a role in helping feed the world, by making soil healthier which produces healthier food. Both contests run from September 1st to November 1st.

Details on the contests can be found here: https://compostfoundation.org/ICAW/ICAW-Poster-Contest

Specific questions can be sent to: info@compostfoundation.org

Events

Irish Composting & Anaerobis Digestion Conference I September 1st 2022

Irish Composting & Anaerobic Digestion Conference 2022

In particular in Ireland, we will be changing the household food waste regulations to comply with the EU Waste Framework Directive to ensure all householders can recycle their food waste by December 2023. The Irish Composting & Anaerobic Digestion Conference comes at a pivotal time for the sector and will create much debate, be thought provoking, informative and inspiring.

To register and for further information click here!

BGK Humustag I 6 October 2022

BGK Humustag

This event will be held in German. Click here for more information.

EU Bioeconomy Conference I 6-7 October 2022

EU Bioeconomy Conference 2022

The high-level conference on 'The Bioeconomy - Enabling the European Green Deal in Challenging Times' will take place in a hybrid format in Brussels’ Charlemagne building and online on 6 and 7 October. Alongside hearing the findings of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report, participants will have the opportunity to discover bioeconomy success stories from EU research and innovation, and get to know other professionals working in the field. Register by 1 October to guarantee your spot if you are not already involved!

Austrian Compost Congess I 3-4 November 2022

1st Austrian Compost Congress - Register now

The Compost & Biogas Association Austria is organizing its first Austrian Compost Congress. Our industry is currently facing challenging times and with this top‐class specialist congress we want
to offer composting plant operators the opportunity to stay up to date on important special topics.
In addition, the leading technology providers will be there in order to network with the specialist
industry in the best possible way at this congress.

Current challenges and central topics will be:

Law/Quality Assurance
State of the art
Microplastics/status of biodegradable materials
Technology for removing impurities
Biowaste fermentation and composting technology

Click here for more information.

Biogas Convention I 7-11 November 2022

BIOGAS Digital Convention 2022

The BIOGAS Convention (conference part) will be organised as an online event this year from 07-11 November 2022. In addition to the German lectures, a parallel English programme will be offered. Afterwards, the trade association will set up its joint stand at the EnergyDecentral trade fair in Hanover from 15-18 November 2022 and present lectures on biogas as part of the exhibitor forum.

Click here for more information!

S.O.S Save Organics in Soil

This international initiative S.O.S. SOIL – Save Organics in Soil, led by the European Compost Network (ECN) and the Italian Composting and Biogas Association (CIC), aims to highlight the importance of soil organic matter to encourage policy makers to develop instruments to move Europe towards implementing sustainable, climate proof soil management practices.

Sign the manifesto 'Save Organigs in Soil' here.