Organic Waste Composting Through Nexus Thinking: Linking Soil and Waste as a Substantial Contribution to Sustainable Development

Hettiarachchi, Hiroshan, Bouma, Johan, Caucci, Serena and Zhang, Lulu, "Organic Waste Composting Through Nexus Thinking: Linking Soil and Waste as a Substantial Contribution to Sustainable Development" in Organic Waste Composting through Nexus Thinking: Practices, Policies, and Trends ed. Hettiarachchi, Hiroshan, Caucci, Serena and Schwärzel, Kai (Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2020), 1-15.

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  • Author Hettiarachchi, Hiroshan
    Bouma, Johan
    Caucci, Serena
    Zhang, Lulu
    Book Editor Hettiarachchi, Hiroshan
    Caucci, Serena
    Schwärzel, Kai
    Chapter Title Organic Waste Composting Through Nexus Thinking: Linking Soil and Waste as a Substantial Contribution to Sustainable Development
    Book Title Organic Waste Composting through Nexus Thinking: Practices, Policies, and Trends
    Publication Date 2020-11-24
    Place of Publication Cham, Switzerland
    Publisher Springer Nature Switzerland AG
    Start page 1
    End page 15
    Language eng
    Abstract This introductory chapter explains why organic waste composting is considered as one of the best examples to demonstrate the benefits of nexus thinking. Current literature is rich with information covering various aspects of composting process. However, it mainly represents two distinct fields: waste from the management point of view and soil/agriculture from the nutrient recycling point of view. It is hard to find information on how these two fields can benefit from each other, except for a few examples found within large agricultural fields/businesses. A policy/institutional framework that supports a broader integration of management of such resources is lacking: a structure that goes beyond the typical municipal or ministerial boundaries. There is a clear need to address this gap, and nexus thinking can help immensely close the gap by facilitating the mindset needed for policy integration. Good intention of being sustainable is not enough if there is no comprehensive plan to find a stable market for the compost as a product. Therefore, the chapter also discusses the strong need to have a good business case for composting projects. Composting can also support achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations. While directly supporting SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (Climate action), enhanced composting practices may also assist us reach several other targets specified in other SDGs. While encouraging waste composting as a sustainable method of waste and soil management, we should also be cautious about the possible adverse effects compost can have on the environment and public health, especially due to some non-traditional raw materials that we use nowadays such as wastewater sludge and farm manure. Towards the end, we urge for the improvement of the entire chain ranging from waste generation to waste collection/separation to compost formation and, finally, application to soil to ensure society receives the maximum benefit from composting.
    UNBIS Thesaurus WASTE MANAGEMENT
    SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
    Keyword Compost
    Municipal solid waste (MSW)
    Nexus thinking
    Nutrients
    Organic waste
    Soil organic matter (SOM)
    Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
    Copyright Holder The Authors
    Copyright Year 2020
    Copyright type Creative commons
    ISBN 9783030362829
    9783030362836
    DOI 10.1007/978-3-030-36283-6_1
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    Created: Thu, 11 Mar 2021, 01:53:20 JST by Eric Siegmund on behalf of UNU FLORES