HEAVY-METAL CONTENT IN SELECTED EUROPEAN COMMERCIAL COMPOSTS

Thirty commercial composts from biogenic wastes and raw materials from vegetable fruit gardens (VFG) were analyzed for heavy metal content. Results obtained were discussed with respect to metal contents for com posts from municipal solid waste (MSW), composts from MSW source separ ation and literature green composts, and the limits for heavy metal co ntents stipulated by European laws. The data obtained showed that, exc ept for Cd content, the majority of the composts analyzed including MS W source separation and green composts could be considered as compost of very high quality or high quality. At the same time, the majority o f composts analyzed must be classified as being contaminated compost o r compost of low quality on the basis of their Cd contents. The result s suggest that for these composts cadmium contamination of raw materia ls defined the compost quality and that the legal limits suggested for this trace element should be reviewed.