ADEME launched in 2006 a research programme specifically addressing the emissions of gas and particulates (dusts, mineral and organic) linked to composting wastes, involving many research organizations, technical centres, research consultancies and industrial partners. The work carried out in this framework has enabled an improvement in the knowledge of characterizing emissions, of their sources and controlling factors, of their metrology (whether at the source or within the environment around treatment sites), of their dispersion to the atmosphere and subsequent exposure to the local population. Following on from this programme, a compilation of the results produced, drawing also from a literature review, has been undertaken and is presented here. This scientific work, written by the research partners of the programme, draws from both their expertise and gained experience. It can thus be considered a "state of the art" of the current understanding of atmospheric emissions from composting: be it emission values, means of measurement or of their control.