ENVIROMAIL

#HK012
ENVIROMAIL
#HK00

May
2013
September
2012

Introduction

ALS (HK) is providing a testing service on Compost

and Soil Conditioner Standards.

Compost is organic material and as a fertilizer to

grow plants. The texture of mature compost is
dark brown or black and has a soil-like texture
and earthy smell.

Method Reference:

In Hong Kong, EPD has developed the Pilot

compost plants. For example, Kowloon Bay,
Yam O. EPD has also promoted the various
funding projects such as Food Waste Recycling
Projects in Housing Estates to encourage the
recycling of food waste from households.

The Testing Method for the Examination of Composting and

Compost (TMECC)
American Public Health Association (APHA)
Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre (HKORC) for SGI.
The Criteria for Soil and Soil Conditioner Classification:

Test

Good
Quality

Food Waste

Compost
Maturity

Compost
Quality

Seed
Germination
Index

Nutrient
content

Compost
used as
Fertilizer

Compost
used as
Soil
Conditioner

Compost
used as
Fertilizer

Compost
used as
Soil
Conditioner

Class

Rotary in-vessel composter

Sources for compost Food processing wastes,

Post-Consumption Food, Animal Waste and etc.

Compost and Soil Conditioner

Standards
Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre (HKORC) is
established the standard for compost and soil
conditioner in 2005 and provide an independent
incorporated certification (Organic Certificate).

Pass

The procedure of Composting

The compost quality standard is consisted of

four categories:
1)

Compost Maturity:
Ammonia, Oxygen demand, Volatile
Organic acid and etc.

2)

Compost Quality:
Foreign matter, Heavy metals,
Physicochemical Properties and Pathogen

3) Nutrient Content
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
(NPK)
4) Seed Germination Index (SGI)

For More Information:

Please email to cs_env.alshk@ALSGlobal.com
or call us at +852 2610 1044
Address:
11/F, Chung Shun Knitting Centre,
1-3 Wing Yip Street, Kwai Chung,
N.T., Hong Kong

Table for the Limit of Compost and Soil Conditioner Standards

Parameter

In House Method

Ammonia

TMECC 04.02C +
APHA 4500 NH3:G

Ammonia :Nitrate Ratio

TMECC 05.02C

Volatile organic acid

APHA 5560C

Carbon :Nitrogen Ratio

Limit of Reporting
10 mg/kg

Limit
700 mg/kg dw

--

50 mg/kg

500 ppm dw

TMECC 05.02A

---

25

Oxygen Intake Rate

TMECC 05.08-A

0.1g O2/kgTS/hr

0.4 g O2/kg TS/hr

Carbon Dioxide Evolution Rate

TMECC 05.08-B

0.1g C/kg VS/day

2 g C/kg VS/day

0.1%

5% dw

0.1%

0.5% dw

1 mg/kg

10

Cadmium

1 mg/kg

Chromium

1 mg/kg

100

Copper

1 mg/kg

300

Mercury

1 mg/kg

Nickel

1 mg/kg

50

Lead

1 mg/kg

100

Selenium

1 mg/kg

1.5

Zinc

1 mg/kg

600

0.1 pH unit

5.5 8.5

Stone larger than 5mm

TMECC 03.08-A

Man-made Foreign Matters such as glass

and plastic and metal larger than 2mm
TMECC 04.06 +
USEPA6020

Arsenic

pH value

TMECC 04.11

Organic matter

TMECC 05.07A

0.1%

> 20% dw

Moisture content

TMECC 03.09A

0.1%

25 35%

Salmonella

TMECC 07.02-A1-2

3 MPN/4g

3 MPN/4g

E. coli

TMECC 07.01-B

3 MPN/g

1000 MPN/g
Total N + Total P +

Total Nitrogen (as N)

TMECC 04.02A +
APHA 4500 Norg

10 mg/kg

Total Phosphorus (as P2O5)

TMECC 04.04A

10 mg/kg

Nutrient
Content

Total K
4% dw
Total Potassium (as K2O)

Seed Germination Index

TMECC 04.03A
HKORC 2005

10 mg/kg
1%

Remark : The limit of heavy metals is applied for Organic Farming.

Product must pass one of tests from Group A and one of the tests from Group B.
Source: Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre.

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