5.B.1 - Biological Treatment of Waste: Composting

Short description

Within NFR category 5.B.1, ammonia (NH3) emissions from composting of organic wastes are reported.

NFR Code	Method	AD	EF
5.B.1	CS	NS	CS
Method(s) applied D Default T1 Tier 1 / Simple Methodology * T2 Tier 2* T3 Tier 3 / Detailed Methodology * C CORINAIR CS Country Specific M Model * as described in the EMEP/EEA Emission Inventory Guidebook - 2019, in category chapters. (source for) Activity Data NS National Statistics RS Regional Statistics IS International Statistics PS Plant Specific As Associations, business organisations Q specific Questionnaires (or surveys) M Model / Modelled C Confidential (source for) Emission Factors D Default (EMEP Guidebook) CS Country Specific PS Plant Specific M Model / Modelled C Confidential

NOx	NMVOC	SO2	NH3	PM2.5	PM10	TSP	BC	CO	Heavy Metals	POPs
NA	NA	NA	-/-	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
L/- key source by Level only -/T key source by Trend only L/T key source by both Level and Trend -/- no key source for this pollutant IE emission of specific pollutant Included Elsewhere (i.e. in another category) NE emission of specific pollutant Not Estimated (yet) NA specific pollutant not emitted from this source or activity = Not Applicable * no analysis done

Separately collected organic waste (biowaste) from e.g. households, public garden and park service, food industry, restaurants, canteens and from agriculture can be treated in two different ways: aerobic treatment (composting) and anaerobic treatment (biogas production).

The aim of the treatment is the production of compost, leading to the recycling of nutrients and organic matter.

The produced compost is used as fertilizer or soil improver in agriculture or horticulture and also in private gardening.
In Germany about 60% of the organic waste is treated in composting plants and ammonia (NH3) is an important emission to air.

Method

Emissions from composting are not a key source and of minor priority.

Activity Data

Official statistical data (Statistisches Bundesamt, Fachserie 19, Reihe 1: Abfallentsorgung (Waste management), Table 2.1; Statistisches Bundesamt, Fachserie 19, Reihe 1: Abfallentsorgung; Wiesbaden; URL: https://www.destatis.de/DE/Publikationen/Thematisch/UmweltstatistischeErhebungen/Abfallwirtschaft/Abfallentsorgung.html) are used for the estimation. The data are published on a yearly basis with an exception for the actual year of reporting. The activity data for the actual year of reporting are obtained, initially, by carrying the relevant data from the previous year forward, in unchanged form. In the following year, when the actual activity data for the given year becomes available, they replace the data that were carried forward. This procedure has only a very small impact on the total emissions in the relevant current report year.

Emission factors

The emission factor used for calculating NH3 emissions is based on emission data from a research project Carsten Cuhls, Birte Mähl, Joachim Clemens; gewitra Ingenieurgesellschaft für Wissenstransfer mbH: Ermittlung der Emissionssituation bei der Verwertung von Bioabfällen; https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/ermittlung-der-emissionssituation-bei-der; im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes, April 2015. The NH3-EF is 222 g/t and used for the whole time series. The use of abatement technologies (such as biofilters) are taken into account.

Uncertainties

The AD from Statistisches Bundesamt have an uncertainty of ±2% whereas the uncertainty for the EF is -59/+130% (ibid.).

Recalculations

When preparing the current inventory data, statistical data are only available for the previous reporting year. The current reporting year must therefore be extrapolated on the basis of the previous year. The result of this approach is revised by the correct data in the following year. For this reason, annual recalculations are required for the previous year.

Table 1: Revised biowaste activity data, in [kt]

2021
current submission	9.021
previous submission	9.117

Table 2: Accordingly revised NH3 emissions, in [t]

2021
current submission	2.003
previous submission	2.024

For **pollutant-specific information on recalculated emission estimates for Base Year and for the current year, please see the recalculation tables following chapter 8.1 - Recalculations.

Planned improvements

Currently no improvements are planned.