End of March, Viaverda organised a visit to the composting plant of DJ compost in Lochristi as part of the OSBOBO demonstration project. In this project, supported by the Flemisch government and the European Union, a set of practical techniques to increase and stabilise soil organic matter in the soil of tree nurseries is demonstrated. Also CLOSECYCLE was introduced to the large group of visitors.
A group of interested tree growers, ornamental growers and garden landscapers were brought together to gain more insight into the production and importance of sustainable green compost.
Led by company director Didier Van Der Eeken (DJ Compost), participants first got an insight into the process of processing green waste into high-quality compost. Then Emma Lanoo (researcher Viaverda) explained the OSBOBO project and its results, and Elke Vandaele (Vlaco) explained Vlaco's general and quality control activities. The importance of pure waste streams to make pure compost without impurities was discussed. This is also an important theme for Vlaco within the Interreg project Closecycle.
A particular interest among tree nursery growers was found in leaf compost, made from leaf residues from the neighbouring municipalities. With its very high soil organic matter content and extended composting duration, the product becomes available in june, when demand from garden landscapers is low. Tree nursery growers see an opportunity to apply this leaf compost to the field before sowing a green fertilizer crop in summer to effectively increase their organic soil levels.
