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One of the greatest problems associated with greenhouse horticulture is the amount of solid waste e.g. steel, plastics and non-yield biomass, that it produces. In this study, we used life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with crop processes and to investigate the relative importance of different waste management options applied in protected horticulture. Four waste management scenarios were analysed: (a) non-yield biomass was composted and other materials were disposed of in landfill; (b) all waste was disposed of in landfill; (c) all waste was incinerated; and (d) non-yield biomass was composted and other materials were incinerated. The study revealed that source segregation followed by the composting of biodegradable matter was the best way of managing waste to improve the impact assessment for most impact categories considered. Segregation of non-yield biomass and its composting reduced the environmental burden for most of the impact categories considered, reaching its maximum value in the category of climate change, which it was possible to reduce by between 40% and 70% depending, respectively, on the option considered; landfill or incineration.

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2 AbstractCompost stability and maturity can be assessed by many methods, differing in both sample preparation and produced information. The method proposed here is the chemical Stability Degree (SD) the origin of which can be related to the Klason method for lignin determination in wood and pulp. It allows determination of the stability of organic matter and nitrogen through Resistant Organic Matter and Non Hydrolysable Nitrogen determinations, in any kind of dry and ground sample. This method avoids the disadvantages related to the determinations conducted on wet sample, such as respirometries or self heating test, which are effected by the water content and the particle size. The SD has been applied to different raw organic materials as well as to composts of different origin, producing reliable results. The Pearson correlations of SD with other usual parameters that can inform on compost quality have been of interest, revealing its usefulness to determine compost stability.

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