Small scale composting of greenhouse foliage

In showcases 3 and 4, VLACO and the Research Station for Vegetable Production work together on the residual stream of fruit vegetable foliage. In Flanders, this accounts for some 15,000 tons per year. This is a residual stream that is difficult to recycle due to the presence of non-biodegradable auxiliary materials (nylon ropes, clips, brackets, etc.). The use of biobased plastics or other degradable components such as viscose is a step in the right direction. However, compostability remains a challenge. In addition, these foliage residues become available in a short period of time in the fall. 

The partners are investigating how this residual stream can be sustainable processed via composting. Initially, they explored how to work out the storage of these harvest residues. By trying to store them over a long period of time, they can be added to compost for longer. For example by ensiling them, or wrapping them in bales. In addition, the partners will find out how biobased materials break down in the compost process and where improvements can be made. The greenhouse foliage will also be composted in smaller-scale farm composting. The end product of this will be used in the multi-year compost trial that has been running since 2006 at location of the Research Station.

CLOSECYCLE is building on the initial results obtained in Cmartlfe from 2021-2023. For the residual streams released from the different fruiting vegetables, the findings were detailed in interesting fact sheets.