6. Plastic Contamination Method Assessment

"Evaluating current mass-based method and possible alternative methods of assessment for plastics in compost and digestate"

Project Overview

This project aimed to investigate whether the current methods for determining physical contaminants are fit for purpose and to explore the efficacy of alternative plastic assessment methods for potential adoption and to inform future limits under PAS100 and PAS110.  

Project Objectives:

  1. To assess the robustness and sensitivity of the current mass-based method for assessing plastic (physical contaminants) under PAS100 and PAS110.
  2. To consider whether an area-based method for quantifying film plastics is operationally feasible and robust and whether it would be feasible to implement for PAS100 and PAS110 materials.
  3. To investigate the feasibility of implementing microplastic analysis for compost and digestate on a research and development basis.

Access

CCS and BCS participants are eligible to receive a copy of the Project Report free of charge. All other requests for access may be subject to a fee. Email the Research Hub Manager (contact details here) to request access.

The fee to access the report is £177.00 (excl. VAT)—equal to the average Research Fees each Scheme participant paid towards the project. Access may also be subject to agreement with REAL’s confidentiality agreement.

Project Selection and Delivery Details

In 2022, the Research Panel recommended the project for funding. Following a competitive tender period, REAL appointed Solidsense, in partnership with Cambridge Eco, as the project contractor in April 2023. Work commenced in June 2023 and was completed in Summer 2024. The total cost to deliver the project was £49,875 (excl. VAT).  

Associated Documents

  • The Project Brief, which summarises the research scope and objectives, can be found here.
  • The Tender Invitation Document (TID), which was used to invite potential contractors to tender for the work, can be found here.