Scottish housing developer goes green with compost

Scottish housing developer Manorlane is realising the benefits of using new 'greener' topsoil on a redundant brownfield site.

The topsoil, which is made from quality compost mixed with sandy loam, has been produced by Scottish Water and is proving to be extremely successful at Manorlane's prestigious development in North Lanarkshire.

The Stirling-based housing developer, which is currently building a range of developments across central Scotland, is committed to adopting environmentally friendly practices and is using approximately 2,500 tonnes of Scottish Water's 'Pod' compost mix within the manufactured soil at the 51-home development near Motherwell.

The topsoil, which was created by Scottish Water with expert advice from the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), is being spread, in stages, across Manorlane's six-acre development at a 150mm thickness to help promote long-lasting plant and turf growth in front and back gardens, as well as in public areas.

The top soil has been assessed against the BS specification for top soil (BS3882) and was found to be equivalent to premium grade.

It was also assessed against the CLEA (Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment) guidance and was found to be more than satisfactory.

Good results were evident after just two weeks, with the imported turf successfully establishing with minimal watering.

Using compost in the topsoil mix complements the free-draining nature of the sandy loam by offering increased organic matter and water retention capacity.

The compost also provides a source of slow-release nutrients, which is ideal for promoting robust establishment of turf and other plants.

Craig Smith, Construction Director for Manorlane said: "Property presentation, both inside and out, is very important to our customers and, in the past we have witnessed turfed gardens starting to look dull and aged, after just a short period of time".

""But with this new type of compost-enriched soil, we are finding that the turf establishes very quickly with minimal watering, and growth is thick and lush green in colour"".

"Compost can prove an invaluable addition to soil".

"It provides a consistent soil amendment, which can restore soil back to health".

"In addition to its water retention properties, compost can improve soil's workability, improve its resistance to compaction, and reduce soil erosion".

"And importantly, using compost made from recycled green waste can help companies meet their waste minimisation or recycling targets in a cost-effective way".

"Scottish Water has been producing 'Pod' compost at its Composting and Recycling Centre at Deerdykes near Cumbernauld since 2005".

"The centre, which was developed with support from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), is now one of the most advanced in Scotland".

"The site processes more than 30,000 tonnes of garden waste each year, and sells around 15,000 tonnes of Pod compost".

"The compost is produced in accordance with the BSI PAS 100 specification, which ensures it meets a range of strict quality criteria".

"It is used by a range of customers including local authorities, landscapers and the construction industry".

"The site produces around 2,000 tonnes of topsoil per year, using compost and sandy loam at a ratio of 2:1".

"Donald MacBrayne, Waste Services Manager at Scottish Water, said: "Turning a redundant treatment works into the modern Scottish Water composting and recycling facility is about as big a recycling project as you can get".

""Recycling is a growing industry with increasing demand for state-of-the-art facilities".

"What we have at Deerdykes is a plant that is at the cutting edge of recycling and which offers not just the best possible facilities for our customers, but also produces high quality compost products".

Key facts about compost:.

* Compost is an excellent source of organic matter.

It gives soil a more workable structure which leads to improved root growth, water and nutrient management properties, and therefore better plant establishment.

* Compost mulches can act as a protective barrier to the soil surface which helps reduce weeds, retain moisture and control erosion.

* Compost can play a key role in restoring and 'repairing' soil on brownfield sites and makes an ideal component in topsoil manufacture where existing soil may be scarce or of poor quality.

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