Globally the waste sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. One of the more significant impacts of landfilling organic waste is its contribution to methane gas, which, over a 20-year lifespan, has over 82.5 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide. Municipalities can derive numerous benefits from diverting organic waste into alternative treatment methods, such as small-scale, decentralised composting and anaerobic digestion. Drawing on research data collected over 3 years, this report illustrates the feasibility of a small municipal-run decentralised model that composts organic waste within a 2km radius from where it is discarded. Ultimately, the model indicates that due to the substantial costs associated with sending waste to landfill (incurred from limited landfill space, long transportation distances etc.) in the eThekwini Municipality (Durban), and the savings generated from diverting waste and creating compost, this project creates a net positive benefit to the municipality. It turns out composting makes sense for the environment, for people and for the municipal coffers!
Click here to refer to the full report for the Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Early Morning Market Composting Pilot Project at the Durban Botanic Gardens.
