Compost can be consistently produced on a large scale to act as a peat replacer, a government minister and experts from the horticultural industry heard today.

Dr Tony Kendle of the Eden Project, Cornwall said: "My previous experience of green compost varied from bags of dust to bags of sticks, and I was determined not to use it. But I was convinced of improved techniques for controlling quality and thousands of tonnes have been used in the Eden Project."

This vote of confidence was further reinforced when he credited the huge growth of plants in the tropical house - up to five metres in 18 months - to the recycled green waste. He said: "This is remarkable testament to this organic material. Ii is a fantastic product that the technologies around will give it a future as a high quality growing media."

By working together, under the direction of soil scientist George Longmuir of Freeland Horticulture, three of Europe's largest waste companies are able to provide sufficient volumes for the garden centre trade. The recycled green waste that is of this top standard carries the Apex logo. George explained: "By keeping our operation tighter we can produce large volumes of a single product, and over the next 10 years the volumes are planned to increase dramatically."

Michael Meacher, minister for the environment, congratulated the Apex initiative. "We need to reduce volumes going to landfill, and the amount of methane gas which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Because this will reduce the amount of peat used, it can also reduce the destruction of the moors by years of mass milling. This is a renewable product, replacing a non-renewable one. It is a win-win situation."