Vital Waste Graphics 3

Compostable wealth: a large share [especially in poor countries] Compostable wealth: a large share [especially in poor countries]

versial. Many European countries pre- fer to convert existing waste feedstock. Here too, the investment in appropri- ate solid-waste management policies and facilities is significant, often be- yond the means of many municipali- ties in lower-income countries. Organic waste encompasses all types of materials derived from living organ- isms (plants or animals); 11 as for com- postable and biodegradable waste, the terms indicate particular properties of the materials. Composting represents ‘the controlled biological decomposi- tion of organic material’ under specific thermal and aeration conditions. A compostable product will completely break down into carbon dioxide, water and sometimes humus, under specific conditions. On the other hand, biode- gradable products only partially break down; these products often leave traces of material in the environment, may re- lease toxics and cannot be used by the earth’s ecosystem as a resource. All sorts of organic waste can enter the composting process, even used oil from

the oil industry. The operation is tech- nical, demanding a balance between nitrogen and carbon inputs (‘green’ and ‘brown’ materials), aeration (stirring), optimal moisture, and stable tempera- ture. The outputs, concentrated liquid (leachate) and gas emissions, can have serious impacts if not managed ap- propriately. Studies now show that bio- degradable waste can contain arsenic (animal growth promoters, banned in the EU and New Zealand), feed addi- tives, antibiotics (in manure: in 2007, 70 per cent of all antimicrobials in US were used for livestock production) and heavy metals. All this remains in composting outputs. This serious obstacle highlights the prominent concerns related to our feedstock and livestock production. In- put in composting processes should be controlled. But the number-one prior- ity is still for measures and changes to be deployed higher up the chain. Only in this way will we be able to reduce the hazards and boost the potential of com- posting biodegradable waste. However many countries still lack the technol- ogy and funding to improve awareness, waste collection and treatment methods.

0 10 20 30 40 as a percentage of raw waste wet weight Share of biodegradables 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 as a percentage of raw waste wet weight Share of biodegradables 50 60 70 80 90

LOW INCOME COUNTRIES LOW INCOME COUNTRIES 62.5% 62.5%

Vegetable / putrescible waste share Vegetable / putrescible waste share

Lowest rates Lowest rates 40 % 40 %

Highest rates Highest rates 85 % 85 %

Average Average

31% 31%

HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES

LOW INCOME LOW INCOME 5.5%

(a fraction of it can be composted) (a fraction of it c n be composted)

5.5%

Waste paper and cardboard share Waste paper and cardboard share

32.5% 32.5%

HIGH INCOME HIGH INCOME

Source: Sandra Cointreau, Occupational and Environmental Health Issues of Solid Waste Management. Special Emphasis on Middle- and Lower-Income Countries , World Bank, Urban Papers, July 2006. Source: Sandra Cointreau, Occupational and Environmental Health Issues of S lid Waste Man gement. Special Emphasi on Middle- and Lower-Inco Countries , World Bank, Urba Papers, July 2006.

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