Composting: A Sustainable Solution to Food Waste Management

Introduction

In today’s world, where environmental sustainability is increasingly becoming a priority, innovative solutions are needed to manage waste effectively. Composting, a centuries-old practice, has emerged as a powerful tool in waste management, offering a sustainable way to reduce landfill waste and create valuable resources.

This blog explores the transformative potential of composting as a waste management solution.

Importance

Organic waste, especially discarded food, poses many potential risks if sent to landfills.

Firstly, and most importantly, there’s the reality that landfills all across South Africa are dangerously close to capacity. As a matter of fact, all are estimated to be completely full by around 2030 if current waste reforms don’t work as intended. Organic waste should therefore always be diverted from landfill. See, like recyclable materials, organic can also undergo a process that’s not only an alternative to landfilling, but beneficial to the environment, the economy, and circular sustainability as well. Learn more about the looming landfill crisis.

All organic waste is biodegradable, but only under certain conditions, like being buried in soil. Left among plastic, concrete, and metal, food decomposes slowly, releasing high levels of methane – an extremely combustible, noxious and foul-smelling greenhouse gas.

Then there’s leaching, which occurs when water fills up soil pores and begins to move downward, hurting plant fertility by carrying nutrients away from the root zone and hurting the ecological balance by bringing those nutrients to groundwater and estuaries. Chemically, organic waste is mostly water; water that escapes during decomposition on top of landfill. When mixed with liquids created by other rotting organic matter, that water becomes ‘leachate’; an extremely toxic pollutant that makes its way to larger bodies of water through leaching, thus eutrophying and poisoning those ecosystems. (Source: Science Direct)

Composting has the twofold benefit of averting these issues by keeping organic waste out of landfill and creating an important product (compost) that enriches soil health, promotes plant growth, and enhances agricultural productivity.

Legislation

The National Environmental Management Act: Waste Act serves as the most pertinent waste management legislation in our country. It encompasses all categories of waste, as well as the activities and criteria for managing it. Under these regulations, food and organic waste with over 40% moisture content cannot be stored for an extended period or sent to landfill.

The government has also established specific objectives to address food waste in this act, including having 50% of all waste diverted from landfills by 2025 and, a more specific, 50% total reduction of food waste by 2030.

It is therefore of critical importance that organic waste is kept out of landfill.

Innovation

One of the key components of modern composting strategies is the adoption of innovative composting methods.

In-vessel composting, for example, uses specialised containers or machines to accelerate the process. Partnerships with composting service providers have enabled us to implement efficient in-vessel composting solutions that effectively manage organic waste while minimising odours and pests.

Collaboration

Effective composting often requires collaborative partnerships between Mpact Waste Management and specialised service providers.

A notable example is the collaboration between us and a pioneering company in the decanting business model. At their facilities, organic waste is separated from packaging, allowing for efficient composting of organic matter. The integration of composting yards at these facilities further streamlines the composting process, creating a closed-loop system for organic waste management.

Addressing Challenges

While composting offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges that must be addressed for optimal success. Managing plastic and non-degradable substrates in composting streams remains a significant challenge, requiring innovative solutions for effective waste separation.

Additionally, odour and pest management are critical considerations in composting facilities, necessitating the implementation of best practices and advanced technologies to mitigate these issues.

Cost Implications

Cost considerations are inherent in composting operations, particularly in handling and processing organic waste.

Decanting fees at facilities reflect the costs associated with separating organic matter from packaging materials. While these costs are passed on to customers, they are outweighed by the environmental and societal benefits of composting, including reduced landfill dependence and enhanced resource recovery.

Conclusion

Composting represents a sustainable solution to the growing challenges of waste management in the modern world. Through innovative methods, collaborative partnerships, and proactive strategies, organisations can harness the power of composting to transform organic waste into valuable resources.

Alongside recycling and more green waste disposal methods, Mpact Waste Management embraces composting as, by far, the most effective and sustainable long-term method of keeping organic waste from landfill.