Organic waste has an interesting place in our modern effort to build a more sustainable, eco-friendly future. While organic waste is able to break down into natural, organic material, some of these do pose a threat.
The naturalness of organic waste does not mean that it should not be disposed of in a safe and secure method, away from human contact. Like other forms of waste, organic waste requires a waste management system.
This blog unpacks the unique position of organic waste and how its disposal creates a unique insight into how an eco-friendly and sustainable future might come about.
Understanding Organic Waste
Organic waste refers to all organic materials that can be broken down into a variety of natural chemicals and compounds.
Take cow manure, for instance. It is a great fertiliser for crops, but manure itself is a leading contributor to climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a primary goal in building a sustainable future.
Similarly, just because waste is organic does not mean that people want to, or should, come into contact with it. Again, cow manure is a good example of this. Most people don’t want to smell it in their daily life!
The human aversion to waste is well documented in history. Even early scientists had the basic understanding that something that smells bad has the potential to cause negative effects on human health.
What is Organic Waste?
Organic waste refers to all organic materials that can be broken down into a variety of natural chemicals and compounds.
Common examples of organic waste include compost heaps and other food scraps.
The degree to which something is or is not organic is difficult to judge.
Some food in the 21st century contains antibiotics and other potentially harmful chemicals that can be dispersed during the decomposition stage. It’s important that a team of professional waste management specialists deal with these issues.
The Importance of Organic Waste
In many ways, organic waste is one of the oldest, more basic forms of waste. Humans have been eating food even before humans existed.
Most societies understand that rotting and decomposing food must be separated from human everyday life. Failure to do so can lead to contamination, disease, and sickness.
Traditional methods of organic waste disposal focused on returning the food scraps back to the soil. In this model, the earth’s soil gains nutrients from the decomposition process.
This harmonic stasis highlights the importance of organic waste. In a nutshell, it is one of the most primal ways for humans to give back to Mother Nature.
Waste Management Hierarchy
The waste management hierarchy underscores many of the current tactics used by companies within the waste industry. Its fundamental goal is to promote more efficient and sustainable waste disposal practices.
Simply throwing all types of waste on a landfill or dump site is no longer the be-all and end-all of waste management.
The waste management hierarchy is a six-point logistics triangle. It breaks down the best ways to deal with waste, with prevention at the top as the most ideal and disposal at the bottom as the last choice.
Waste Prevention
Waste prevention as a method of managing waste speaks to a general need to stop waste from being formed in the first place. It speaks to a holistic need to cut down on unnecessary production and its subsequent creation of obsolete and unused products.
Waste Reduction
Similar to prevention, waste reduction seeks to minimise the gross creation of waste and other forms of garbage. It seeks to address waste at the production stage by incentivising manufacturers to cut down on total production by utilising more effective means. A successful waste reduction program also lowers disposal costs and the burden of natural resources in processing facilities.
Waste Reusing
Waste reuse techniques are one rung below waste reduction. At this stage, it is assumed that necessary steps have been taken to minimise production. Waste reuse seeks to find innovative ways to give a new life to waste instead of having it destroyed, converted, or entirely disposed of.
Waste Recycling
One of the most popular waste management methods, recycling, entails finding new ways to use discarded materials. It can involve repurposing materials or entirely recreating a product. Creativity is key. Recycling programs help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, recycling creates jobs and other community programs.
Waste Recovery
Waste recovery is one of the lowest on the hierarchy. It seeks to take what parts are salvageable from a discarded product and use them in a new way. It is a common practice for large machine parts.
Waste Disposal
Waste disposal might be the most recognisable waste management method, but it is far from the best. Disposal should be seen as a final solution because once something is disposed of, it’s effectively left to rot and serves no further purpose.
Organic Waste Management
Organic waste management is a crucial component of sustainable waste practices that focuses on the proper handling and disposal of biodegradable materials, such as food scraps, yard waste, and paper products. Effective management of organic waste can significantly reduce landfill volumes, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance soil health.
The Waste Hierarchy of Organic Waste
One of the primary methods for organic waste management is composting. This process involves the natural decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms, resulting in nutrient-rich compost that can be used to enrich soil in gardens and farms.
Community composting programs encourage local participation and education, helping residents understand the benefits of recycling organic waste.
Another approach is anaerobic digestion, which uses microorganisms to break down organic material in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas that can be harnessed for energy. This not only reduces waste but also contributes to renewable energy sources.
Managing Food Waste
Managing food waste and food scraps for households is a common issue. Food organics are present in every household. Part of Cleanway’s commitment to addressing waste management options is to compile advice. Here is a link to our article “9 Tips for Managing Household Food Scraps”
- Composting
- Food Scrap Collection
- Meal Planning
- Reuse Leftovers
- Freezing
- Education
- Portion Control
- Waste Audits
- Contacting a Waste Management Company
These tips seek to create a waste strategy that will decrease total waste generation across many waste streams.
Closing thoughts
Implementing effective organic waste management strategies requires collaboration among municipalities, businesses, and residents.
By promoting awareness and providing resources, communities can foster a culture of sustainability, reduce waste, and support environmental health. Ultimately, managing organic waste responsibly contributes to a circular economy, where resources are reused, minimizing the impact on the planet.