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As a result of worldwide increased demand for consumption, the rate at which landfills became a common problem for all nations was too rampant for governments to act in time. The high levels of urbanisation have led to an unprecedented amount of solid, agricultural, and solid waste ending up in landfills.
Australia is one of the countries where waste has increased per population and GDP. Indeed, the country has taken considerable measures according to the National Waste Policy Action Plan, including exporting waste, reducing waste generated per person by 10%, and banning unnecessary single-use plastics.
However, reports show a stagnant process in boosting the recycling rate, as waste from building and demolition, organics, and hazardous materials are still prominent. Organic waste has also shown worrying stats, as it accounts for 2.5% of the country’s annual emissions. Luckily, one brave program might solve this problem. Let’s see what FOGO is about.
Food organics and garden organics (FOGO)
The latest facility of food and garden organics opened in north-west Tasmania after receiving government funds. The new building should be able to process about 50,000 tonnes of yearly organic waste and transform it into compost. The project is expected to remove 7,500 tonnes of organic waste from landfills and shift it towards aquaculture and primary industries.
If the program is as successful as waste balers for cardboard from Miltek Australia, the country could reduce its emissions to 43% by 2030, which is the current governmental target. This can only be possible through a common effort from companies and households.
What does organic waste include?
Organic waste seems simple to pinpoint, but it involves a vast array of biodegradable components. Food waste, food-soiled paper, and non-hazardous wood waste account for prominent parts of organic waste, and their contribution to climate change is essential when their decomposition process releases methane into the atmosphere.
Organic waste must be recycled because it reduces greenhouse emissions. The process starts with the customer, who should separate it from other types of waste. In addition, companies can take the waste to accredited facilities or sign up for a special recycling program.
If not handled accordingly, organic waste can contaminate the water and soil, generate infestations and lead to the loss of resources that could’ve been used as fertilisers or energy sources.
The potential of organic waste
As underrated as it is, organic waste can do much more for our environment. We only have to learn how to handle it. Composting, for example, is the ideal solution to food loss and waste, using all organic resources to improve soil conditions.
Basic composting requires households to compost their own organic waste in plastic baskets or clay pots and use it in their gardens. In addition, centralised composting is possible if local governments offer proper composting facilities.
Organic waste can become the future of biogas and biomethane, both great options for sustainable energy. Indeed, the current solutions for introducing them require substantial expenses and must be tested thoroughly, but with enough implications, it should provide sustainable improvement for our future.
On anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion, the process in which bacteria help break down organic matter without oxygen, is a unique way of handling organic waste. It takes place in sealed vessels where waste can be digested independently or mixed. Manure, wastewater biosolids, food waste, and other organics like crop residue all account for anaerobic digestion.
The process transforms these elements into biogas, heat, horticulture products, and more. Therefore, it could replace our reliance on unsustainable energy resources and tap into a circular economy in which no material becomes wasteful.
The challenges of handling organic waste
Handling organic waste comes with various issues, including the separate collections that are often misinterpreted. It may not always be evident that paper towels, plywood, and pizza boxes should be placed in the bin for organic waste (only when they are sources from food-soiled paper), which confuses users. Therefore, a considerable part of organic waste ends up in the residual waste container.
Moreover, food waste is a serious problem that must be tackled. In Australia, 7.6 million tonnes of food is wasted yearly. The individual’s responsibility of not wasting approximately 312 kg of food per person is not efficiently assessed, but factors like busy schedules and the lack of a meal plan contribute to waste.
That’s why spreading awareness on the subject is important. Informative campaigns and resources for citizens, employees, and companies are needed to minimise the impact of food waste on nature and our planet.
Is a sanitary landfill a viable option for waste?
While it might be challenging to diminish all landfills in Australia, sanitary landfills might be the best alternative for now. The method would help protect the environment, as the waste would be displaced into thin layers and compacted by machinery, on top of which compacted soil is provided. More layers of clay and topsoil are ensured to avoid water entering the underneath, but vegetation can be planted.
However, sanitary landfills require a minimum of elements to be correctly assessed:
- A hydrogeological location in which groundwater cannot surround the soil;
- A design and restoration plan settled;
- A permanent staff placement for maintenance;
- A waste emplacement and covering to avoid pests;
Sanitary landfills prevent leachate contamination through their layering plan, so there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions and pollution than regular landfills. Unfortunately, landfill sites would destroy a considerable portion of land and habitat, so from this perspective, implementing them would waste a lot of land and potential space.
What’s your take on organic waste management?
Organic waste includes anything biodegradable, from food to cardboard made from cellulose. While its impact is underrated, organic waste produces considerable greenhouse gas emissions. Companies and households struggle to recycle and compost, so governments try to make the process easier by establishing specific waste management solutions. For example, in Australia, the FOGO program delivered a facility function in which a considerable part of the country’s organic waste will be transformed into products for primary industries.
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