Organics recycling and use for compost purchasers
How to purchase quality compost
Buyers can select from a wide range of compost products that are suited to various applications including:
- Potted plants
- Home gardens
- Commercial landscaping
- Parks, gardens, playgrounds and other community open spaces
- Horticultural, viticultural and other agricultural applications
- Forestry and mine site applications
Selection of products appropriate to your needs is important to avoid possible detrimental impacts on soil, plant, animal and human health.
Products containing compost include:
- Mulches
- Soil conditioners
- Potting mixes
- Blended or organic soils (top soil applications)
- Top dressing
- Low density soils
- Playground surfacing
Compost quality and Australian Standards
Australian Standards for recycled organic products have been published for composts, soil conditioners and mulches (AS 4454), general and specialist potting mixes (AS 3743), soils for landscaping and garden use (AS 4419), and for products used for playground surfacing (AS 4422) to reduce the risk of fall injuries.
Guidance on procurement of quality compost is available in:
Compost specifications
Australian Standards outline the quality of a range of products containing recycled organics. Tighter specifications may be needed for your particular application.
To assist in developing markets for recycled organics, specifications for a range of products are being developed. These will be made available when completed.
Market specific specifications are being developed for:
- Roadside landscaping
- Turf management on golf courses
- Catchment management
- Viticulture
- Mine site rehabilitation
- Stormwater infiltration systems
Applying compost
Guidance on the use of quality compost is available in:
Recycled Organics Unit (2003). Published by the University of New South WalesRecycled Organics Unit (2003). Published by the University of New South Wales
Page last updated: 12 July 2012
