The DBU-funded project (KUKOM, which stands for “KUnststoffe in KOMpost”) undertaken by Hamburg University of Technology, University of Hamburg, Entsorgungsbetriebe Lübeck and ASB Grünland aims to identify concepts for reducing plastics in compost. The project also seeks to establish a methodology for their analysis to ultimately promote compost as a soil improver and turf substitute.
The project's goals are intended to be achieved through the following means:
- Enhancing the quality and quantity of separately collected household biowaste by testing new collection models focusing on food waste, thus improving the quality of the final compost product.
- Developing a routine method to detect microplastics in compost.
- Conducting additional analysis of potentially harmful substances in materials used for food waste collection (e.g., paper bags, biodegradable plastic bags, etc.).
- Implementing novel methods for collection and analysis into practice.
ECN’s Scientific Officer, Steffen Walk, attended the meeting to provide an introduction to ECN’s quality assurance scheme and discuss current developments on compost and digestate quality requirements at the EU level.
Project information (in German): Link