How do we reach a recycling level where our waste is not our legacy?
We've met with the top researchers at CSIR and The Department of Science and Technology, and they are focusing on the ORGANIC waste stream.
But why focus on the organic waste when it is already biodegradable? Because when you throw organic/food/wet waste into the bin, it ends up in a landfill where it gets covered by mounds of other junk. In this covered environment, the lack of oxygen causes the organic material to degrade ANAEROBICALLY.
This type of decomposition releases methane and hydrogen sulphide which are strong greenhouse gasses, and smell very very bad. Another by-product of anaerobic decomposition in the landfill is a liquid sludge which can contaminate groundwater as it seeps through the landfill. Thus, organics in the landfill do not get returned back to the soil in a beneficial form, but rather cause devastating effects on our groundwater.
However, if we divert the organics away from the landfill, and compost them in an AEROBIC environment, the process only releases carbon dioxide (which is much less potent than methane), and results in a valuable soil conditioner which is so important for the future of farming.
There is a lot more we can talk about this, but for now, just imagine if you don't throw organic waste in the bin, what's left will just be dry stuff which makes it much easier to recover recyclables. We need to get the organics right before we can be successful in the rest!🥕🥕🥕 #OrganicFirst