information sheet
sampling methodology
Pasteurisation/Pathogen Reduction/Microbial Stabilisation
Purpose
To assess adequate pathogen reduction of compost
to meet NSW Food Waste Compost Exemption
pasteurisation requirements.
When to test
With the right equipment (augers), this test can be
done prior to screening. If this test is done after
screening, it is important to wait at least a few weeks
to make sure the pile heats up again and then cools
down. Screening disturbs the compost and exposes the
pasteurised compost to E-coli and other pathogens in
the general environment, on the screening equipment,
in the air and on the ground.
General comments
Pretend you are performing open heart surgery. E-coli
is everywhere, except inside your finished compost.
If tools are accidentally placed on the ground, on the
covers or touched by humans, they need to be sterilised
before being used again in the pile. The opportunity for
cross contamination is significant.
What you need:
} ideally 2 workers (possible with one but takes longer)
} 2 x stainless steel buckets (milking buckets)
} steel tipped Spiral Auger1
} stainless steel Jarret Auger2
} a small stainless steel shovel or trowel to remove
top surface of compost
} s mall Jimmy bar or spoon or similar to assist
removal of sample from Jarret Auger3
} approx 5 litres hydrogen peroxide 5%4
} gloves, mask and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
} labelled sterile screw top soil sample jars
} foam esky and ice bricks
} heavy duty scrubbing brush for cleaning tools at end5
} p ermanent marker, sticky tape and either express
post or courier bag
} access to wash basin, water and soap.
1
Available from Dormer: www.dormersoilsamplers.com/ 2 Available from Dormer: www.dormersoilsamplers.com/ 3 Available from Dormer: www.dormersoilsamplers.com/
4
Available from Commercial Cleaning Supply or Chemical Companies. 5 Available from Commercial Cleaning Supply or Chemical Companies. 6 P54.
What you do:
1. Remove covers
2. P our hydrogen peroxide into one bucket. Swish
around and then pour into next bucket. Let first
bucket dry.
3. F irst bucket will be for samples. Second bucket is
to wash tools.
4. P lace ALL tools (or active ends) into second bucket
to coat in hydrogen peroxide.
5. R
 emove tools only as needed. Ensure tools do not
touch each other or any surface on site other than
that to be tested.
6. P ut on sterile gloves. With a hand tool, scrape
surface of compost pile aside .
7. With spiral auger, make hole into compost pile.
8. W
 ith Jarrett auger, insert into hole and take
compost sample.
9. E mpty Jarret auger sample into first bucket.
Use Jimmy bar (sterilised metal rod) to assist if
necessary. Do not place metal rod on ground. Place
in bucket if you need to put aside.
10. D
 o not let hand tool touch augers. Wash tools in
hydrogen peroxide bucket if cross contamination
occurs.
11. C
 ontinue sampling procedure at least 5 times. (The
Biosolids Guidelines say minimum of 5 samples
with each sample representing no more than 100
tonnes of product6. The more samples taken, the
more accurate the end result will be.
12. M
 ix samples with either clean tool or clean gloves.
Fill sample jar with composite sample. Seal, label
and place in esky with ice brick. Seal esky, pack and
send to laboratory with appropriate paperwork
ensuring arrival within 24 hours. Minimum sample
size is 300 grams.
13. If you take enough samples, leftovers can be used
for the tests outlined below.
14. C
 lean tools. Dispose of hydrogen peroxide
appropriately.
Alternative: we have been experimenting with using
a trigger spray pack for hydrogen peroxide instead of
the second bucket to reduce costs, but haven’t done a
complete test just with this method yet.
Sample size
Each grab sample can represent a maximum of
100 tonnes. So if you have 1000 tonnes of finished
compost that you want to test, you need to take a
composite of 10 samples – one from each 100 tonne
section. Batches of finished compost can be stockpiled
and amalgamated into larger batches to reduce testing
frequency. For smaller sites with plenty of room to
stockpile finished compost, you may only have to test
compost once a year when you are ready to go to the
market with your finished compost.
Process for AS4454 and NSW Biosolids
Chemical Contaminants and Heavy Metal
Tests and SWEP testing
What you need:
S ame as above but without need for infection control,
sterilisation or refrigeration.
What you do:
} S ame as above but without need for keeping tools
sterile.
} No need for refrigeration.
} Samples can be placed in A4 resealable plastic bags.
}  inimum sample size for AS4454 is 6 litres but
M
8-10 litres is recommended.
}  inimum samples size for Biosolids Contaminants
M www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/waste/
and Heavy Metals is 500 gms
}  inimum sample size for SWEP compost analysis
M Resources and Links:
is 200 gms.
Sample size. Each grab sample can represent a
maximum of 100 tonnes. So if you have 1000 tonnes
of finished compost, you need to take a composite of
10 samples – one from each 100 tonne section.
The NSW Biosolids Guidelines go into some detail
about sampling frequency, statistics and minimum
batch sizes. If you are someone that understands the
maths, you could reduce the amount of sampling
you have to do over time by making use of history or
probability or co efficient thingies outlined in the NSW
Biosolids Guidelines.
Disclaimer
This information sheet summarises how folks involved
in the Groundswell project understand and meet
the legal framework that regulates the application
of food waste compost to land. It should be used in
conjunction with the Groundswell information sheet
on Compost Regulations. As regulations change, this
information sheet may be out of date. Please be smart
and work with your local EPA to make sure you are
doing the right thing.
Also, there is no getting round it. You are still going
to need to read the Food Waste Compost Exemption,
the Biosolids Guidelines and the AS4454 Compost
Standard.
Bibliography
ARMCANZ – Australian Guidelines for Sewerage
Systems - Biosolids Management, 1995, ARMCANZ
Water Technology Committee, Canberra.
NSW EPA – Environmental Guidelines - Use and
Disposal of Biosolids Products, reprinted December
2000.
Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste)
Regulation 2005 – General Exemption Under
Part 6, Clause 51 and 51A – The Food Waste
Compost Exemption 2008. Available online at:
ex08foodcompost.pdf
Dormer: www.dormersoilsamplers.com
SWEP Analytical Laboratories: www.swep.com.au
Sydney Environmental and Soils Laboratory:
www.sesl.com.au

For updates and more information on the Groundswell project go to: www.groundswellproject.blogspot.com

Written by Simone Dilkara, 2010. Graphic design/illustration by Carolyn Brooks The Groundswell Project
was assisted by the NSW
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Government through its
Attribution 3.0 Unported License and can be reproduced Environmental Trust
providing the Groundswell project is acknowledged as
the original source.