On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:42:46 GMT, Janet Baraclough
wrote:

~The message
~from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:
~
~ In article ,
~ jane wrote:
~ ~
~ ~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.
~
~ er, I think it *can* survive
~ http://www.compost.me.uk/html/japanese_knotweed.html
~
~ "The results of the study suggest that for regeneration to be
~ prevented a temperature greater than 55oC needs to be maintained in
~ the compost, for at least one week."
~
~ Anyone who expects to produce compost from unsorted but compostable
~ household and garden waste in a week clearly believes in fairy
~ godmothers.
~
~ The claim above doesn't say one week at 55 degrees is long enough to
~create compost. It says that one week of sustained 55 degrees in the
~compost process, will ensure JK plant-parts can't regenerate.

Which it doesn't sound like the Welsh process can, sadly. I know we've
had discussions in urg before on whether commercial composting can
kill such things: now we know they may not be able to, so I shall make
a point of never buying anything from the local recycling centre until
all of them have to be operating to EU guidelines ie hot enough.

*sigh*


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!