End of Waste

Criteria for certification in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

England

Compost certification criteria in England are:

  • CCS Scheme Rules – the Scheme Rules show how the Compost Certification Scheme operates.
  • PAS 100 – the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 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 the production of composts to ensure they are consistently fit for their intended uses.
  • The Compost Resource Framework sets out the end of waste criteria for the production of quality compost from source-segregated biodegradable waste destined for use in designated market sectors. If these criteria are met, the resulting outputs will normally be regarded as having been fully recovered and to have ceased to be waste. Optional exemptions are accessible via the following Regulatory Position Statements. Note These statements support the Environment Agency’s End of Waste position but are not themselves assessed as part of certification.
    • Regulatory Position Statement 317 This RPS applies to the storage and use of BSI certified PAS 100 compost that does not meet the plastics limit set out in the Compost Resource Framework.
    • Regulatory Position Statement 358 This RPS applies to the storage of BSI certified PAS 100 compost at the site of production or a storage site under the producer's control.

Scotland

Compost certification criteria in Scotland are:

  • CCS Scheme Rules – the Scheme Rules show how the Compost Certification Scheme actually operates.
  • PAS 100 - the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 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 the production of composts to ensure they are consistently fit for their intended uses.
  • SEPA’s End-of waste regulatory position statement for compost - this sets out SEPA's requirements for compost to achieve End of Waste. This RPS introduces additional standards reducing the levels of plastic contained within compost, the plastic limit is 50% of current PAS100. This aligns plastic contamination limits with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) standards.

Northern Ireland

Compost certification criteria in Northern Ireland are:

  • CCS Scheme Rules – the Scheme Rules show how the Compost Certification Scheme operates.
  • PAS 100 – the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 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 the production of composts to ensure they are consistently fit for their intended uses.
  • Compost Quality Protocol – the Quality Protocol sets out the end of waste criteria for the production of quality compost from source-segregated biodegradable waste destined for use in designated market sectors. If these criteria are met, the resulting outputs will normally be regarded as having been fully recovered and to have ceased to be waste.

Wales 

Compost certification criteria in Wales are:

  • CCS Scheme Rules – the Scheme Rules show how the Compost Certification Scheme operates.
  • PAS 100 – the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 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 the production of composts to ensure they are consistently fit for their intended uses.
  • GN022 (End of Waste: Compost produced from source-segregated biodegradable waste) – this guidance note replaces the Compost Quality Protocol in Wales. It clarifies when compost produced from source-segregated biowaste is no longer considered waste and meets the end of waste test under Article 6 of the Waste Framework Directive. It ensures that the quality of compost produced is suitable for specific purposes and protects human health and the environment.
    • Regulatory Statement 122 (RS122) – this regulatory statement applies to the production, storage, and use of certified PAS 100 compost that does not currently meet the stricter plastics limits set out in NRW’s adapted end of waste guidance. It provides a transition period, valid until December 2026, during which NRW will not normally take enforcement action provided the compost meets existing PAS 100 plastics limits and the producer is working toward compliance with the new, lower limits.