A program to assess the impacts and benefits of composted source-separated solid wastes (CSSSW) applied to agricultural lands: National agricultural compost trial

The Solid Waste Management Division of the Hazardous Waste Management Branch of Environment Canada contracted the Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research (CLBRR) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to prepare a report on the design of a National Agricultural Compost Trial (NACT). The NACT was to focus on assessing the soil and environmental benefits and risks associated with the application of Composted Source-Separated Solid Wastes (CSSSW) to agricultural land. CLBRR's interest was enhanced by Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) programs requiring a 50% reduction in waste to landfill by the year 2000, and the perceived likelihood of increasing pressure on agricultural lands to accept composted organic residues. This report provides a perspective on issues and presents concepts for the design of a NACT. It includes three main parts: A) results from a workshop on CSSSW application to agricultural lands, B) review of issues related to CSSSW application, and C) recommendations for the implementation and coordination of the National Agricultural Compost Trial. Various appendices indicate the participants of the workshop and addresses of contributing authors, and include titles of submitted research proposals from interested AAFC Research Stations and their collaborators.