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BSI PAS 100 Frequently Asked Questions

What is BSI PAS 100?

Literally, the British Standards Institution's Publicly Available Specification for composted material. In Plain English, the national compost benchmark - the minimum requirements for the process of composting, the selection of materials from which compost is made and even how it is labelled. This specification was launched in November 2002 and was developed in conjunction with WRAP and the Composting Association.

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Why do we need BSI PAS 100?

There needs to be a way of defining quality. Compost producers need to know they are producing quality compost and buyers and specifiers need a way of recognising it.

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Can compost exceed the quality required by BSI PAS 100?

Yes, and we encourage this. In fact, we are already engaged in developing add-ons to the standard that help producers demonstrate particular physical and chemical properties of their compost for key markets such as landscaping or growing media manufacture, where the need for detailed quality information is greater.

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How many producers are working towards certification?

The number is growing fast as the momentum behind the national composting initiative builds. Within one year of the standard being launched, no less than 35 producers were working towards the standard and a number of these have already achieved full certification.

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Can we self comply or do we need to bring in the consultants?

You can do it yourself, although independent third party certification is something we strongly recommend (as does the Composting Association).  If you aim for certification with the help of The Composting Association, the cost works out at approximately 16p per tonne, although it isn't possible to estimate properly without knowing all your details. There is a registration fee of £700, then there are lab fees (for testing your compost), and you may incur some costs if you use a consultant to help you with the certification paperwork.

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Is there a lot of work involved in getting certified?

Certification involves a series of steps and the Composting Association will be able to assist you with most of them. Step one is the creation of a quality policy. Step two involves a hazards analysis. Step three is about creating standard operating procedures. Step four is centred on process validation and day-to-day record keeping. (Process validation means batch testing at various stages of your production process and is carried out at an approved lab.)

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How long does it take?

As a guide, allow 7-10 months from beginning to end. It really depends on what stage you are starting from, how quickly you make your compost, the speed at which you process the paperwork, and how long it takes for the lab to perform its analysis.

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Once certified, then what?

You'll be able to use the Composting Association certification mark and will be actively promoted as a BSI PAS 100 compliant producer. Every year, the Association will perform a quality audit to ensure you are maintaining this standard.

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How do I join the certification scheme?

Visit The Compost Association website, and specifically their Compost Quality page.  Compost Quality using PAS 100

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