In article ,
jane wrote:

This is actually rather more worrying. If the central composting plant
cannot get to high temperatures, how on earth are they going to
prevent the resulting compost spreading somebody's dumped Japanese
Knotweed or horsetail all over Wales???

Urk. South Welsh gardeners may be wise to avoid buying the resulting
compost!

Well, they may be, but not for that reason. Such roots don't last
long even in a 'cold' composting process, because they have to either
grow or die - and there isn't enough light (and often not enough air)
to grow. Also, when they do sprout, the new growth is very susceptible
to attack by bacteria and fungi.

The danger comes from bacteria, fungi etc. with resistant spores, such
as tetanus or anthrax (neither currently a major problem in the UK),
and possibly things like white rot of alliums. I don't know which
plant pathogens have resistant spores, but it is fewer than most people
think.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.