About two thirds of all waste sent to landfill consists of organic food waste. Organic waste, also known as green waste, is comprised of food, garden prunings, weeds and lawn clippings. In landfill, organic waste degrades anaerobically to produce potent greenhouse gases such as methane which is twenty five times more damaging to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
How then can we prevent all this waste going to landfill and creating potential for global warming? Real Waste Solutions can provide a remedy by collecting organic waste and turning it into nutrient-rich composted material for use in home gardens and agriculture. Real Waste Solutions can provide bins for your home or office in which organic waste is collected.
What Organic Waste Can Be Recycled?
Organic materials such as:
are all acceptable materials for recycling.
Some materials can’t be recycled using this process. These include cement, bricks, steel, glass, plastic and general waste.
The high heat generated by the composting process enhances the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi and in the process destroys any disease causing organisms and renders weeds inert so that a useful, nutrient-rich composted material is produced.
What Happens to Organic Waste When It Reaches the Collection Centre?
On arrival at Real Waste Solutions Collection Centre any contaminants are removed. The remaining waste is then shredded and heaped into long lines of organic material, called windrows. These are kept watered to ensure decomposition and turned regularly for a period of four to five months, similar to what happens in a home garden compost bin. When the composting process is completed, the resulting material is screened and graded for use in different applications which can include horticulture and garden centres, environmental rehabilitation programmes, home gardens and agriculture. This valuable recycled material can then be used to return vital nutrients and minerals to the soil to enhance and enrich the growth of plants.
