Sampling protocols for ensuring legal Sampling protocols for ensuring legal compliance and standardisation:compliance and standardisation: the the

case of Italycase of Italy

Rosanna Laraia, Environmental Protection AgencyRosanna Laraia, Environmental Protection AgencyLiliana CortelliniLiliana Cortellini, Environmental Consultant, Environmental ConsultantFabrizio De Poli, Ministry of the EnvironmentFabrizio De Poli, Ministry of the Environment

Biological treatment of biodegradable Biological treatment of biodegradable wastewaste

BruxellesBruxelles, 8, 8--10 April 200210 April 2002

SummarySummary

-- Compost classes according to Compost classes according to IItaliantalian regulation in regulation in forceforce

-- Sampling protocols Sampling protocols

-- ConditionsConditions of of compliancecompliance

-- Future Future developmentdevelopment

Italian regulation on compostCompost as a product from waste treatment

Source separatedwaste

Composting

Product, composted amendment

according to Fertilizer Law

Compost as a productCompost as a product

-- Compost is produced Compost is produced tthroughhrough waste treatment waste treatment (source selected) (source selected)

-- According to Waste Law (Legislative Decree 5 According to Waste Law (Legislative Decree 5 February 1997, n.22) a permit from the competent February 1997, n.22) a permit from the competent Authority is required to treat waste by compostingAuthority is required to treat waste by composting

-- Fertiliser Law, the Law 10 October 1984, n. 748, lists Fertiliser Law, the Law 10 October 1984, n. 748, lists several products derived from waste composting several products derived from waste composting

-- Compost complying with the standards set by the Compost complying with the standards set by the Fertilizer Law can be put into the market and used Fertilizer Law can be put into the market and used without restrictionswithout restrictions

Fertiliser Law , n.748/1984Natural soil amendments based on compostaccording to Annex 1C (Ministerial Decree 27 March1998)Parameter Unit Green composted

amendmentMixed composted amendment

Moisture % ≤ 50 ≤ 50

pH 6 - 8,5 6 - 8,5

Organic C % DM ≥ 30 ≥ 25

Organic N % NTK ≥ 80 ≥ 80

Humic and fulvic acids

% DM ≥ 2,5 ≥ 7

Parameter Unit Green composted amendment

Mixed composted amendment

C/N ≤ 50 ≤ 25

Cd mg/kg DM ≤ 1,5 ≤ 1,5

Cr VI mg/kg DM ≤ 0,5 ≤ 0,5

Hg mg/kg DM ≤ 1,5 ≤ 1,5

Ni mg/kg DM ≤ 50 ≤ 50

Pb mg/kg DM ≤ 140 ≤ 140

Cu mg/kg DM ≤ 150 ≤ 150

Zn mg/kg DM ≤ 500 ≤ 500

Parameter Unit Green composted amendment

Mixed composted amendment

Plastics ≤ 3,33 mm

% DM ≤ 0,45 ≤ 0,45

Plastics > 3,33 mm

% DM ≤ 0,05 ≤ 0,05

Inerts ≤ 3,33 mm

% DM ≤ 0,9 ≤ 0,9

Inerts > 3,33 mm

% DM ≤ 0,1 ≤ 0,1

Plastics + Inerts≥10 mm

% DM absent absent

Parameter Unit Green composted amendment

Mixed composted amendment

Salmonella In 25 g absent absent

Enterobacteriaceae CFU/g ≤ 1,0 x 100 ≤ 1,0 x 100

FaecalStreptococci

MPN/g ≤ 1,0 x 1.000 ≤ 1,0 x 1.000

Nematodes N/ 50g absent absent

Trematodes N/ 50g absent absent

Cestodes N/ 50g absent absent

0

200

400

600

800

1.000

1.200

1.400

1000

t

1993 1994 1997 1999

Waste input

Italy:Composting plants for source separated

organic waste

Italian regulation on “MSW compost”

Waste

Composting

MSW compost(Stabilised biowaste)

MSW MSW Compost Compost ((Stabilized biowasteStabilized biowaste))

-- According to Waste Law (Legislative According to Waste Law (Legislative DDecreeecree 5 5 February 1997) a permit from the competent February 1997) a permit from the competent Authority is required to treat waste by compostingAuthority is required to treat waste by composting

-- MSW MSW compost which meets given standards can be compost which meets given standards can be used in agriculture or for land reclamation under a used in agriculture or for land reclamation under a permit issued by the competent Authoritypermit issued by the competent Authority

0

500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

3.000

3.500

4.000

1000

t

Italy North Centre South/Isl.

CapacityActual input

Italy: Plants for mechanical biological

treatment of mixed municipal waste (year 1999)

MSW compost standards according toDeliberation 27 July 1984Parameter Unit Limit value

Moisture % DM <45pH 6 - 8,5Organic matter % DM >40

Humified organic matter % DM > 20

N % DM >1P2O5 % DM >0,5

K2O % DM >0,4

Particle size mm 0,5-25

Parameter Unit Limit Value

C/N < 30

As mg/kg DM ≤ 10

Cd mg/kg DM ≤ 10

Cr III mg/kg DM ≤ 500

Cr VI mg/kg DM ≤ 10

Hg mg/kg DM ≤ 10

Ni mg/kg DM ≤ 200

Pb mg/kg DM ≤ 500

Cu mg/kg DM ≤ 600

Zn mg/kg DM ≤ 2500

Parameter Unit Limit value

Inerts % DM ≤ 3

Plastics % DM ≤ 1

Metals % DM ≤ 0,5

Glass mm ≤ 3

Glass (quantity) % DM ≤ 3

Salmonella Absent

Seeds of Weeds Absent

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsComposting plants which Composting plants which produce produce compostcompostcomplying withcomplying with the the standardsstandards of commercial of commercial

fertilisersfertilisers

-- Waste LawWaste Law (Legislative (Legislative DecreeDecree 5 5 February February 1997) 1997) doesndoesn’’tt set set sampling protocols for process sampling protocols for process and and product product controlcontrol

howeverhowever

-- Minimum Minimum numbernumber of of samplessamples per per yearyear and and sampling sampling methodmethod can can be be set in the set in the permitpermit issued byissued by the the competent Authoritycompetent Authority, on a case , on a case by by case case basisbasis

-- Technical regulationTechnical regulation ((DeliberationDeliberation 27 27 JulyJuly 1984, 1984, stillstillin force) set in force) set samplingsampling methods for waste methods for waste and and compostcompost

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsThe case ofThe case of VenetoVeneto Region (1)Region (1)

-- TheThe VenetoVeneto Region issued the Directive n.766/2000 Region issued the Directive n.766/2000 which set that composting plants with a capacity > which set that composting plants with a capacity > 3.000 t/year shall apply a quality management 3.000 t/year shall apply a quality management programmeprogramme

-- Each lot of end Each lot of end --product shall be analysed product shall be analysed (minimum frequency: six months)(minimum frequency: six months)

-- Waste input shall be sampled andWaste input shall be sampled and analyzedanalyzedaccording to the waste type: i.e. yard waste at least according to the waste type: i.e. yard waste at least 2 analysis/year if capacity >1.000 t/year, 1/year if 2 analysis/year if capacity >1.000 t/year, 1/year if capacity <1.000 t/yearcapacity <1.000 t/year

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsThe case ofThe case of VenetoVeneto Region (2)Region (2)

Control of the end product (and of the feedstock) Control of the end product (and of the feedstock) according to the Directive n.766/2000according to the Directive n.766/2000

-- Internal control managed by the plant: compost Internal control managed by the plant: compost characterisation through an accredited laboratorycharacterisation through an accredited laboratory

-- Control performed by an independent Body: the Control performed by an independent Body: the regional regional ““Observatory on CompostingObservatory on Composting””

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsThe case of Veneto The case of Veneto Region Region (3)(3)

TheThe VenetoVeneto Region issued the Directive n.766/2000 Region issued the Directive n.766/2000 which set requirements in order to obtain a which set requirements in order to obtain a

product quality label (Compost product quality label (Compost VenetoVeneto))

FeedstockFeedstock

--Plant capacity >10.000 t/year of waste: 6 Plant capacity >10.000 t/year of waste: 6 samples/yearsamples/year

--Composting plants treating yard waste, capacity Composting plants treating yard waste, capacity >1.000 t/year: 2 samples/year>1.000 t/year: 2 samples/year

--Composting plants, capacity <1.000 t/year: 1 Composting plants, capacity <1.000 t/year: 1 sample/yearsample/year

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsThe case of Veneto The case of Veneto Region Region (4)(4)

TheThe VenetoVeneto Region issued the Directive n.766/2000 Region issued the Directive n.766/2000 which set requirements in order to obtain a which set requirements in order to obtain a

product quality label (Compost product quality label (Compost VenetoVeneto))

EndEnd--productproduct

-- Each lot of end Each lot of end --product shall be analysedproduct shall be analysed

-- Minimum frequency: two monthsMinimum frequency: two months

Sampling protocolsSampling protocols: : compost as compost as a a product product (1)(1)

-- Fertilizer Law Fertilizer Law set set sampling methods to sampling methods to test test commercial commercial productsproducts: : Decree Decree of the of the Ministry Ministry of of Agriculture Agriculture 19 19 July July 1989 1989 ““Official methods Official methods of of fertilizer analysisfertilizer analysis””

-- Each batch shall be sampledEach batch shall be sampled

-- BatchBatch: : an amountan amount of of product constitutingproduct constituting one one unitunitand and having uniform characteristics having uniform characteristics

Sampling protocolsSampling protocols: : compost as compost as a a product product (2)(2)

-- Sample typesSample types::

--point sample point sample ((incrementincrement))

--composite composite sample sample

--reduced samplereduced sample

-- final final samplesample

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsCompost as Compost as a a product product

Sampling methods according to Fertilizer Sampling methods according to Fertilizer LawLaw (3)(3)

-- Minimum Minimum number number of of point samplespoint samples per per batchbatch: :

-- BatchBatch <2,5 t: 7<2,5 t: 7

-- 2,5 t<2,5 t<batchbatch<80 t: <80 t: √√ 20 *20 *batch batch mass (mass (tonstons))

-- BatchBatch>80 t: 40>80 t: 40

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsCompost as Compost as a a product product

Sampling methods according to Fertilizer Sampling methods according to Fertilizer LawLaw (4)(4)

Composite Composite samplesample: : sample obtained by sample obtained by mixing mixing many many point samplespoint samples

-- 1 composite 1 composite sample sample per per batchbatch

WeightWeight of composite of composite samplesample::

--not less than not less than 4 kg 4 kg

-- Reduced sampleReduced sample: : obtained by obtained by ““quartering quartering tecniquetecnique””

-- Final Final samplesample: a : a representative amount representative amount of of reduced reduced samplesample, , sent for analysissent for analysis

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsMSW MSW CompostCompost ((Stabilized biowasteStabilized biowaste) (1)) (1)

Waste LawWaste Law (Legislative (Legislative DecreeDecree 5 5 FebruaryFebruary 1997) 1997) doesndoesn’’tt set set sampling protocols for processsampling protocols for process and and

compostcompost controlcontrol

however however

Minimum Minimum numbernumber of of samplessamples per per yearyear and and sampling sampling methodmethod can can bebe set in the set in the permit issued bypermit issued by the the competent Authoritycompetent Authority, on a case , on a case byby case case basisbasis

Sampling protocolsSampling protocolsMSW MSW CompostCompost ((Stabilized biowasteStabilized biowaste) (2)) (2)

-- Technical regulationTechnical regulation on on compostcompost ((DeliberationDeliberation 27 27 JulyJuly 1984, 1984, stillstill in force) set a in force) set a sampling method for sampling method for compost according to compost according to the the sludge sampling methodsludge sampling method

-- A A National National Standard Standard ““WasteWaste: : manual samplingmanual sampling, , preparationpreparation and and analysis analysis of of eluateseluates”” was issued was issued in in MayMay 1999, 1999, which which set set sampling protocolssampling protocols: UNI 10820: UNI 10820

Waste sampling protocolWaste sampling protocolUNI 10802, 1999 (1)UNI 10802, 1999 (1)

SamplingSampling planplan

-- SamplingSampling procedureprocedure

-- Criteria to Criteria to set the set the numbernumber of of increments increments per per lot to lot to improve accuracyimprove accuracy

-- Minimum mass Minimum mass to improve accuracyto improve accuracy

-- Quality Quality controlcontrol

Legal complianceLegal compliance

According to Italian regulation each individual According to Italian regulation each individual sample shall meet sample shall meet the the requirements either requirements either of of

Fertilizer law Fertilizer law ((compost productcompost product) or of ) or of Waste law Waste law ((waste compostwaste compost, , corresponding to stabilized corresponding to stabilized

biowaste biowaste of the working of the working document document of the of the CommissionCommission))

Controls to ensure legal complianceControls to ensure legal compliance

Internal controlInternal control

-- Compost characterisation carried out by the Compost characterisation carried out by the composting plant through an accredited composting plant through an accredited laboratorylaboratory

Control performed by the Competent AuthorityControl performed by the Competent Authority

-- Control performed by the competent Authority Control performed by the competent Authority according to the Waste Law provisionsaccording to the Waste Law provisions

-- Compost placed on the market: control performed Compost placed on the market: control performed by the competent Authority according to Fertiliser by the competent Authority according to Fertiliser Law provisionsLaw provisions

Future Future developmentsdevelopments

The The italianitalian regulation in the field of biodegradable regulation in the field of biodegradable waste treatment is now evolvingwaste treatment is now evolving

-- A draft technical regulation is under discussion A draft technical regulation is under discussion

-- The regulation will cover composting, anaerobic The regulation will cover composting, anaerobic treatment and mechanical biological treatmenttreatment and mechanical biological treatment

-- This draft will include some of the provisions of This draft will include some of the provisions of the EC working document, also in the field of the EC working document, also in the field of sampling protocolssampling protocols

Future Future developmentsdevelopments

-- The Italian Consortium of The Italian Consortium of CompostersComposters (CIC) is (CIC) is now organising a compost quality labelnow organising a compost quality label

Compost sampling Compost sampling GuidelineGuideline of the of the Environmental Protection Environmental Protection

Agency Agency

-- ItalianItalian EPA EPA comparedcompared the the differentdifferent samplingsamplingmethodsmethods of of nationalnational and and internationalinternational regulationsregulationsand and guidelinesguidelines

-- BasedBased on the on the literature literature and on the and on the experienceexperience of of Regional EnvironmentalRegional Environmental ProtectionProtection AgenciesAgencies a a guidelineguideline, , specific for specific for compost samplingcompost sampling, , was was proposedproposed

Compost sampling Compost sampling Guideline Guideline of the of the Environmental Protection Environmental Protection

Agency Agency

Sampling proceduresSampling procedures: :

-- WindrowsWindrows and and pilespiles

-- Enclosed vesselsEnclosed vessels, , continuous continuous or or discontinuous discontinuous plantsplants

-- ContainersContainers, , bagsbags

Compost sampling Compost sampling GuidelineGuideline of the of the Environmental Protection Environmental Protection

Agency Agency

Sampling Sampling procedure: procedure: windrowswindrows//pilespiles

--Set at Set at least least 3 3 points along points along the the perimeter perimeter (or the (or the lengthlength) of the pile/) of the pile/windrowwindrow

--At At each selected each selected location 4 location 4 samples must be takensamples must be taken: :

-- at 2 at 2 different vertical levelsdifferent vertical levels (i.e at a (i.e at a vertical vertical level level of 1/3 and 2/3 of the pile high of 1/3 and 2/3 of the pile high aboveabovegroundground levellevel) )

-- at 2 at 2 different depths different depths ( i.e.30( i.e.30--50 cm and 1 m)50 cm and 1 m)

Compost sampling Compost sampling GuidelineGuideline of the of the Environmental Protection Environmental Protection

Agency Agency

Sampling Sampling procedure: procedure: windrowswindrows/pile/pile

--Minimum Minimum number number of of point samplespoint samples: 12: 12

--At At least least 12 12 point samplespoint samples per 200per 200--300 m300 m33

--Point samplesPoint samples are are mixed to obtain mixed to obtain composite composite sample sample (18 (18 ––20 kg) and 20 kg) and reduced samplereduced sample (3 (3 ––4 kg) 4 kg)

Sampling Sampling procedure: in procedure: in vesselvessel--systemssystems, , continuouscontinuousor or discontinuous dischargediscontinuous discharge

--Point samplesPoint samples are are taken during taken during the the discharge discharge operationsoperations and and mixed accurately tomixed accurately to obtainobtaincomposite composite samplesample

--As an As an alternative alternative point samplespoint samples are are taken from taken from the cross the cross section section of the of the daily discharge amount daily discharge amount

--At At least least 1 1 point samplepoint sample per 10 per 10 tons tons of of compostcompost