Regional Project
Organics
Organics Management
Organics Management
Organic material is biodegradable matter such as kitchen scraps (food); garden cuttings, grass and branches; and paper. Combined data from 13 waste audits in the Pacific found that approximately 40% of waste disposal to our landfills and dumps is organics. When processed correctly (in an “aerobic” or oxygen-filled environment), organic materials can produce valuable nutrient rich products, such as compost, suitable for soil enhancement and food cultivation. However, when intermingled with other waste and disposed in a landfill or dump (an “anaerobic” environment), organic material can release toxic leachate and generate methane gas.
Project Description
The purpose of this regional project is for Pacific stakeholders, now and into the future, to have practical and resources and decision-support needed to design and implement their own effective organics management solutions, appropriate for their own context and communities. Fiji, FSM, RMI, and the Solomon Islands have chosen organics as a priority or secondary priority of their PacWastePlus country project.
What will this project do?
The Organics regional project will review existing Organic facilities from the region, undertake technical research, and adopt findings and resources from Country Projects to develop:
- a “Minimum Standard” technical framework for countries to have as a resource when designing and operating their own organics processing facility
- a “decision guidance resource/tool” – to guide informed decision making around processing system design/technologies, size and equipment requirements, operational processes, etc to suit any context and scale
- on-line training package to guide the application of “decision guidance resource/tool”
- resources to communicate with and empower communities to convert their organic “waste” to a valuable “resource” using appropriate solutions available (i.e., backyard, on-farm, community-level, or national-level organics processing).
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General
Organics Composting_Data Collection & Monitoring
The Organics Management and Composting Daily Data Collection Template can be used to track and manage the composting process - recording organic materials diversion and input to a compost facility, and monitoring key factors such as carbon/nitrogen ratios, temperature, maintenance etc.
The Organics Management and Composting Daily Data Collection Template allows compost facility operators to track the composting process and identify issues early, and make adjustments to maintain the quality of the compost. The template can be used by communities operating a small compost facility, or a central facility processing 1 tonne a day or more.
The Organics Management and Composting Daily Data Collection Template can be used in combination with the Composting Standard and other resources on the PacWaste Plus website to guide all aspect of organics management.
Guideline
How Do I Compost: A Guide for Community Composting
This guide is intended for communities, groups, or small-scale fruit and vegetable growers in the Pacific who seek to compost small quantities of organic materials (approximately 1-2 wheelbarrows per week) in a shared small-scale composting facility using simple tools and volunteer labour.
Resource Template
Standard Operating Procedure – Bay Composting Organics Processing Facility
This SOP guides the effective composting process, providing supervisors and staff the background and guidance on activities to operate and run a compost facility safely, effectively, and efficiently in the region.
Countries are encouraged to utilise this framework to effectively enhance the operations of their compost facilities.
Frequently asked questions
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- 40% waste disposed to landfill – “anaerobic”
- In-country solutions exist – “aerobic” processing
- Many benefits:
- Saves landfill capacity
- Reduces leachate and methane gas
- Makes a valuable nutrient rich product
- Soil enhancement
- Food cultivation, climate resilience
- Business opportunities
- Project designed to increase knowledge/ expertise to implement organics solutions
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- Research – social and technical
- Pilot studies
- Resources – package to enable design and implementation of your own organics’ solution:
- How to develop business case
- How to design and construct facility
- How to operate – manual, checklist
- Learnings from case studies