Amidst the talks of Sustainable Development at International and Regional Forums,South Africa has set an example when it comes to Waste Management. Various initiatives have been launched by the African country as part of its comprehensive National Waste Management Strategy(NWMS).One such initiative is Home Composting Research Project, which has been successfully implemented in the cities of South Africa,city of Cape Town for that matter.
The city of Cape Town has embarked on an innovating home composting program for residents. This program aimed at diverting as much household organic waste as possible. Home and Community composting kits were provided to citizens by the city administration.In total, more than 38 tons of household organic waste was recorded as being diverted from landfill at an average of 1692 Kg per household per month. Despite being conducted at a small scale in the initial phase, the results are more than satisfactory.
India faces a huge problem of garbage management.India alone generate more than 1,00,000 metric tonnes of solid waste,a significant volume of which comes from kitchen waste, every day which is higher than many countries' total daily waste generation taken together. As of now, waste management in urban agglomeration and metropolitan cities is being done in a haphazard manner where garbage of the entire city is dumped into landfills without proper segregation. The situation is such that Delhi and Bangalore like metropolitan cities are now facing acute shortage of dumping sites and sanitary landfills.Crisis is even more serious in the suburban areas and small towns where treatment plants doesn't even exist.
Can composting be a solution?
Advocates of 'Waste to Compost' model argue that aerobic compost method can drastically change the situation. Aerobic Digestion as a method for dealing with food waste has rocketed in other countries too.Aerobic Digestion is one of the most efficient and cheapest system of dealing with biowaste.Evidence suggests that there are significant potential benefits to wide-scale composting,both environment and social. Home and Community composting may divert 25% to 70% of kitchen waste. It largely depends on the participation rate of the residents and communities.
In urban agglomerations and large metropolitan cities, individual and community composting can significantly help city administration tackling landfills shortage problem. At village and suburban level, waste to compost model can be utilized in a much meaningful manner.Compost generated at large level by Community composting can be utilized by the farmers as manure and fertilizers.
The idea creates an opportunity for Start Ups which can establish a supply chain for the same. This will therefore generate employment opportunities at rural level. In fact it has been successful in South Africa.Cooperatives initiatives were started in Tembisa,Gauteng and New Castle with the assistance of local administration. Waste recycling sector has created significant employment opportunities.This is certainly a win-win situation for all the stakeholders of the supply chain.
As topsoil loss is a serious ecological issue,compost can help prevent soil erosion. It helps sandy soils retain water that normally runs through.It can also balance pH of the soil and extend the growing season by moderating soil.Since it encourages vegetation and reduce erosion,it can be used as a planting media in artificial wetlands.
Further, if applied at a large scale, increasing demand of composting products will encourage plastic and other polymer industries. As solid waste management is a global issue and the demand for sustainable solutions is increasing rapidly, India can also search markets for its exports.
In short, if put into practice, 'Waste to Compost' model will pave the way,in one way or another, for various initiatives of the government for instance, National Horticulture Mission, National Action Program to Combat Desertification, Swachh Bharat Mission, Solid Waste Management, Start Up India,Make in India and so on.
Challenges- Implementation of the model is a huge challenge that too in a vast country like India where implementational problems exists across-the-board. For adopting a model like this, decentralization of next layer is essential undoubtedly.Local administration is supposed to play a crucial role in the entire process. Municipalities,in collaboration with product manufacturing companies and suppliers, needs to initially implement the project on an experimental basis on a cluster-based-approach.
Moreover, the project requires citizen awareness programs from the government. Cape Town local administration in fact conducted mass awareness programs through educational means.City provided free compost bins to residents as part of the pilot project.
India is committed to Sustainable Development Goals.Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) has a bearing on Waste Management.Waste to Compost is one of the most sustainable solution to tackle the menace of Garbage crisis.
Environmentally concerned citizens and organizations are coming forward to provide simple and effective solution. Bangalore based Shudh-Labh is one such example.However,collaboration with local administration and involvement with citizens at greater level is need of the hour.
Can composting be a solution?
Advocates of 'Waste to Compost' model argue that aerobic compost method can drastically change the situation. Aerobic Digestion as a method for dealing with food waste has rocketed in other countries too.Aerobic Digestion is one of the most efficient and cheapest system of dealing with biowaste.Evidence suggests that there are significant potential benefits to wide-scale composting,both environment and social. Home and Community composting may divert 25% to 70% of kitchen waste. It largely depends on the participation rate of the residents and communities.
In urban agglomerations and large metropolitan cities, individual and community composting can significantly help city administration tackling landfills shortage problem. At village and suburban level, waste to compost model can be utilized in a much meaningful manner.Compost generated at large level by Community composting can be utilized by the farmers as manure and fertilizers.
The idea creates an opportunity for Start Ups which can establish a supply chain for the same. This will therefore generate employment opportunities at rural level. In fact it has been successful in South Africa.Cooperatives initiatives were started in Tembisa,Gauteng and New Castle with the assistance of local administration. Waste recycling sector has created significant employment opportunities.This is certainly a win-win situation for all the stakeholders of the supply chain.
As topsoil loss is a serious ecological issue,compost can help prevent soil erosion. It helps sandy soils retain water that normally runs through.It can also balance pH of the soil and extend the growing season by moderating soil.Since it encourages vegetation and reduce erosion,it can be used as a planting media in artificial wetlands.
Further, if applied at a large scale, increasing demand of composting products will encourage plastic and other polymer industries. As solid waste management is a global issue and the demand for sustainable solutions is increasing rapidly, India can also search markets for its exports.
In short, if put into practice, 'Waste to Compost' model will pave the way,in one way or another, for various initiatives of the government for instance, National Horticulture Mission, National Action Program to Combat Desertification, Swachh Bharat Mission, Solid Waste Management, Start Up India,Make in India and so on.
Challenges- Implementation of the model is a huge challenge that too in a vast country like India where implementational problems exists across-the-board. For adopting a model like this, decentralization of next layer is essential undoubtedly.Local administration is supposed to play a crucial role in the entire process. Municipalities,in collaboration with product manufacturing companies and suppliers, needs to initially implement the project on an experimental basis on a cluster-based-approach.
Moreover, the project requires citizen awareness programs from the government. Cape Town local administration in fact conducted mass awareness programs through educational means.City provided free compost bins to residents as part of the pilot project.
India is committed to Sustainable Development Goals.Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) has a bearing on Waste Management.Waste to Compost is one of the most sustainable solution to tackle the menace of Garbage crisis.
Environmentally concerned citizens and organizations are coming forward to provide simple and effective solution. Bangalore based Shudh-Labh is one such example.However,collaboration with local administration and involvement with citizens at greater level is need of the hour.
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