million tonnes of food per year( more than the UK), 30 % of all agricultural production ends up as waste to landfill, and the total cost of food waste is estimated at R61.5 billion per year. On a global scale- if food waste were its own country- it would be the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, behind China and the USA.
In a remarkably successful programme based in Beaulieu, Johannesburg, Carmen Nottingham of Fertilis is using the common earthworm to tackle one of the country’ s biggest wet waste issues – food waste. Nottingham says,“ The Eisenia Foetida, a humus earthworm, can process food waste, vegetative and garden waste, animal waste, and even toxic wastes. The waste these earthworms ingest is converted into the highest quality, pathogen-free, micro-organism rich, pH-balanced organic fertiliser.” The earthworms have also been noted to improve the air quality around them, and early signs even point to them being able to safely ingest the highly absorbent( and therefore harder to recycle) paper handtowels used in public bathrooms.
Nottingham’ s focus is two-fold. Providing a sustainable food waste disposal solution is obviously important, but Fertilis also works to train and upskill farmers and youth in earthworm waste management and composting, thus creating an entire recycling industry. The by-product of organic fertiliser and a healthier environment, also aiding in the production of healthy crops – a truly sustainable solution to a somewhat sticky problem.
Can we really make a difference? The answer is absolutely yes, although education is imperative and entrepreneurship necessary for success.
WastePlan is just one such on-site waste management company that offers a range of solutions to ensure efficient and effective separation, sorting, weighing and reporting of waste. The facilities management professional is able to monitor the type and amount of waste generated, being provided information for recycling and waste reduction initiatives.
You’ d be surprised to discover just how much of what you throw away is actually recyclable – including those polystyrene food trays. There are several informative local websites you can visit, including:
INVESTOR OF THE YEAR
AWARD
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Do you think you have what it takes to be the 2017 Real Estate Investor of the year?
Do you have a property story to tell? Have you managed to creatively secure a property and maximise your investment? It could be an incredible experience, goal achievement, monetary return, reward, obstacles you overcame, something that you learnt or something that impacted you and people around you.
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www. polystyrenepackaging. co. za www. recycling. co. za www. treevolution. co. za
RESOURCES
2 nd ANNUAL INVESTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2017
www. reimag. co. za
www. businesstech. co. za, www. fertilis. co. za www. csir. co. za, www. wasteplan. co. za