Laboratory compost analysis – an essential service in sustainable bio-waste management
Compost analysis has become an indispensable part of quality control processes in bio-waste management and the production of organic fertilizers. This service is now also available at Sample Control laboratory, which brings over ten years of experience in the field of analytical testing and quality assurance.
Whether for municipal or industrial composting, proper laboratory analysis ensures the safe use of compost for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes, while meeting regulatory and market requirements.
What does laboratory compost analysis include?
Compost analysis is carried out in accordance with accredited testing methods and includes the following parameters:
Physico-chemical parameters – moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, dry matter content, organic matter content, and identification of macroscopic impurities
Elemental composition – total and organic nitrogen (N), nitrogen compounds (ammonium, nitrates, nitrites), total phosphorus (P) and phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅), potassium (K) and potassium oxide (K₂O), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and other macroelements
Heavy metals analysis – lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), inorganic and total arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), and other trace elements
Microbiological analysis – Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and other microbiological safety indicators
Contaminants – Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Stability and maturity assessment – essential for determining the degree of compost decomposition and its agricultural effectiveness
Why is compost analysis important?
Regular and reliable compost testing is necessary for:
Regulatory compliance – in accordance with the Fertilising Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1009)
Product certification – required for the marketing of compost as a commercial fertilizer or soil improver
Internal process control – for monitoring compost quality and preventing undesirable deviations in production
Sample Control – accredited laboratory for compost analysis
At Sample Control, we offer a comprehensive compost analysis service, fully aligned with current legislation and applicable standards, while providing flexibility and expert support throughout the process.
Our service includes:
On-site compost sampling, conducted in line with prescribed guidelines
Laboratory processing and analysis of all relevant parameters according to the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
Fast and reliable delivery of analysis results
Our experts are available for consultation before, during, and after the analysis – from planning and execution of the testing to interpretation of results – ensuring you have a clear understanding of every step in the process.
Halal Control in the Food Industry: The Key Role of Analytical Laboratories
Halal refers to everything permitted under Islamic law (Sharia). In the food industry, it refers to products that do not contain prohibited (haram) ingredients and that are produced, stored, and distributed in compliance with halal standards. With the growing demand for halal food and beverages, laboratory analysis of halal status is becoming increasingly important to verify product compliance with prescribed standards.
Presence and contamination of meat with perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds
Perfluoroethyl compounds (PFAS) is a collective term for a very large group of fluorinated compounds, including oligomers and polymers, consisting of neutral and anion surface active compounds with high heat, chemical and biological inertness. Perfluorinated compounds are generally hydrophobic but also lipophobic and therefore will not accumulate in fat tissues as is usually the case with other persistent halogenated compounds. An important subgroup are (per) fluorinated organic surfactants, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane acid (PFOA). For PFOS and PFOA, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for humans of 150 ng/kg body weight and 1.5 μg/kg body weight per day (EFSA 2008).