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The ODPM report on "Monitoring of Peat and Alternative Products for Growing Media and Soil Improvers in the UK 2001"

POLITICAL BACKGROUND

"We serve notice on the peat extraction industry that unless there is a voluntary agreement to reduce peat extraction substantially and promote alternatives, we shall introduce a strict fiscal and / or regulatory regime"
[An Earthly Chance, LABOUR PARTY POLICY DOCUMENT, 1992.] 

What progress has been made since this statement was made?

Enviros and ADAS have recently completed a project for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the purpose of which has been to provide the PWG (Peat Working Group) with accurate data on trends in the quantities of peat and alternative materials being used.

The main non-peat materials used were organic by-products from forestry, agriculture and horticulture (such as bark, wood fibre, wood waste, spent mushroom compost, cocoa shell and coconut fibre – coir), together with green compost and small amounts of inorganic materials and paper waste.  Sterilised loam is a significant material, used in growing media to improve water and nutrient holding characteristics.

THE FIGURES

During the time period 1993-2001 the total supply of all horticultural and landscape substrates increased by 223%; from 2.42 million m³ in 1993 to 5.40 million m³ in 2001.  Of this, peat consumption increased from 1.55 million m³ to 3.39 million m³ (219%); but peat alternatives increased at a greater rate from 0.87 million m³ to 2.01 million m³ (231%).

Of the total supply of materials in 2001 (5.40 million m³), 3.63 million m³ was used as growing media, with 1.77 million m³ supplied as soil improvers and mulches. Soil improver/mulch accounted for 33% and growing media 67% of the total market. Soil improvers/mulches mainly consisted of alternatives (94%) and growing media remain predominantly peat (90%).

However, although still a small proportion of the total, there has been a 66% increase in the use of peat alternatives in growing media since 1999 (including loam, which was reported for the first time in 2001). Bark (1.34 million m³ or 67% of alternative materials) and green compost (0.32 million m³ or 16%) were the most commonly used alternative materials in 2001. The use of commercially produced green compost as a soil improver/growing medium increased 40% between 1999 and 2001, with strong growth in competitor materials such as spent mushroom compost and wood waste, whereas the use of the more expensive cocoa shell and coir decreased.

Most of the growth in green compost usage has been in the amateur gardening, landscaping and local authority sectors, where quality requirements are less stringent than for professional growers. The table below shows the usage of peat alternatives in each of four main markets.

* Spent mushroom compost.  This does not include the amount supplied direct from mushroom growers, assessed as 282,000 m³ in 1998.

Supply to the four major markets in 2001 from this 5.40 million³ was as follows:

• Amateur gardeners  3.17 million m³ (58% of total market, and 66% of peat supplied)
• Professional growers  1.22 million m³ (23% of total market, 33% of peat supplied)
• Private landscape contractors  0.87 million m³ (16% and <1% of peat supplied)
• Local authorities  0.15 million m³ (3% of total market and <1% of peat supplied)

This study has predicted that the total market will continue to grow; and each sector appears to show an increase in the proportion of peat alternative products used.

Comparing the results of the 2001 survey with the trends shown since 1993 for the amateur gardening, local authority and landscaping markets only, it is clear that whilst the total market continues to grow at a steady pace, this is fuelled mainly by an increase in the market for soil improvers based on peat alternatives.

Many thanks are extended to those producers who supplied us with the data under which this project was completed, namely producers of peat, bark, green compost and other materials.

For a full copy of the report visit: here.

FURTHER WORK

Phil Wallace and Sam Brown (of Enviros Consulting Ltd) are currently working on various steps to increase the markets for compost through the following projects:

• Development of guidelines & specifications for compost for the landscaping sector (WRAP funded)
• Investigating the benefits and efficacy of compost use in different applications (WRAP funded)
• Research into increasing the use of recycled materials in the production of growing media lead by Peatering Out Ltd – funded by WRAP
• Extensive plant growing trials of compost blends at professional nurseries – ReMaDe Essex, Clean Merseyside Centre, and London ReMaDe.

For further information regarding these projects email: compost@enviros.com

This article is based upon work done by Alan Stewart for The Composting Association.

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