13 December 2016 Report

The Effect of the Composting Process on Particular Plant, Animal and Human Pathogens

Concerns about the potential presence of plant and human or animal pathogens are a major limitation to the increased up-take of composted waste by end-users of high-quality horticultural growing media. 

Key points
  • Consultations with end-users of composts indicated that pathogen content of green waste composts was a concern
  • The animal/human pathogens E. coli and Salmonella were of concern to retailers of composts
  • Overview

    Concerns about the potential presence of plant and human or animal pathogens are a major limitation to the increased up-take of composted waste by end-users of high-quality horticultural growing media.

    If compost producers were able to provide appropriate quality assurance (QA) data, it would develop increased confidence in the safety of composted materials and thereby increased uptake by end-users, particularly commercial growers.

    WRAP has commissioned this work to provide a detailed understanding of the fate of pathogens within the composting process in order to provide confidence in the process to end-users.

    Download files

    • WRAP-InvestigationOfTheEffectofTheCompostingProcess.pdf

      PDF, 801.96 KB

    By downloading resources you are agreeing to use them according to our terms and conditions.
    These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.