PAS 100:2018

What is this PAS about?

It provides guidelines on how to implement a quality management system for compost production. The aim is to ensure that compost from segregated biowastes and/or biodegradable non-waste materials is consistently safe, good quality and fit for purpose.

Who is this PAS for?

It’s relevant to any market using compost derived from source segregated biodegradable waste. This includes use of compost in agriculture, domestic or professional horticulture, soil grown horticulture, landscaping, land restoration, growing media and forestry.

Why should you use this PAS?

It specifies requirements for the process of composting, the selection of input materials, the minimum quality of composted materials and the storage, labelling and traceability of compost products.

It specifies requirements for a Quality Management System (QMS) for compost production to ensure composts are consistently fit for their intended uses.

It also requires a Safety and Quality Control System, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) assessment, which the composter takes into account when developing, implementing and reviewing the QMS.

NOTE: This PAS is for composts from a composting system fed only by source segregated biowastes and/or biodegradable non-waste materials. It does not apply to composting activities that do not require registration with the regulator, such as composting at home.

What’s changed since the last update?

An extensive stakeholder consultation and consensus building process was undertaken to update the standard and make it more fit for purpose for today's organics recycling industry.

Consequently the 2018 edition introduces more quality controls to the composting process and management system. These ensure that PAS 100 is a robust standard and one in which the industry can have a great deal of confidence.