AS 4454-2012

Description

AS 4454 – 2012 Edition – Composts, soil conditioners and mulches

This Standard specifies requirements for organic products and mixtures of organic products that are to be used to amend the physical and chemical properties of natural or artificial soils and growing media. It specifies physical, chemical, biological and labelling requirements for composts, mulches, soil conditioners and related products that have been derived largely from compostableorganic materials and which meet the minimum requirements as set out in this Standard. It covers products marketed or distributed both in bags and in bulk in an unrestricted manner in all market sectors including domestic use,urban landscaping, agriculture and land rehabilitation.

AS 4454 applies to organic products and mixtures of organic products that have been treated by pasteurizing or composting procedures as defined bythis Standard. Raw mulches that have not been subject to temperature-based pasteurizationmay be covered by this Standard if they are verified as being free of plant propagulesand pathogens in accordance with Clause 3.2.1(b) of this Standard.

AS 4454 does not apply to home composting end products for self-use, nor does it apply to organic fertilizers suchas blood and bone. Also excluded are liquid organic wastes,liquid seaweed products, non-organic mulches (e.g. gravel), non-organic soils and soil conditioners (e.g. gypsum and sand), non-compostable organic materials (e.g. plastics) and materials variously described as ‘compost starters’ and ‘activators’.

Shredded garden organics (sometimes referred to as ‘green waste’, ‘green organics’,‘garden wastes’ or ‘yard wastes’) that have not been subjectedto either a pasteurization or composting procedure are specifically excluded from this Standard, mainly because they have a high probability of containing plant propagules and pathogens. Vermicast that has not been subject to pasteurization or composting before or after being worked by worms may be covered by this Standard if it passes the provisions ofAppendices L and M, along with all the other criteria in Tables 3.1(A), 3.1(B) and 3.1(C).

This Standard does not specify tests for specific or indicatorplant pathogens due to a lack of validated methods.

General Product Information:

Amendments, rulings, supplements, and errata include:

AS 4454-2012 AMDT 1
January 2012
Composts, soil conditioners and mulches

AS 4454-2012 AMD 2:2018
December 2018
Composts, soil conditioners and mulches