The phenomenon of Climate Change is a worldwide problem. Therefore, several countries have pledged to reduce their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through the recognized Paris Agreement. Under this framework, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Chile and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, the Organic Reciclo program was born.
The objective of this initiative is to incorporate the recycling of organic throughout Chile, through the implementation of composting plants or anaerobic biodigesters in different communes of the country. In addition, it seeks to raise awareness in the community about the positive impact that sustainable waste management generates in the environment, especially when half of the waste generated in households corresponds to organic waste.
"Most people do not dimension what it means to throw away the remains of fruits or vegetables, because they assume that they decompose naturally, however, the process of anaerobic degradation in landfills produces the emission of Greenhouse Gases , highly polluting for the environment. According to the latest National GHG Emissions Inventory, 3.23 million tons of CO2 equivalent are emitted in Chile for municipal solid waste disposal. If 38% of the national population separated their organics to manage them through composting, for example, it would be possible to reduce these emissions by 30% by 2030 ”, explains the Coordinator of the Organic Recycle Program, Gerardo Canales.
According to the World Bank Report “What a waste 2.0” (World Bank Report “What a Waste 2.0”, 2018), worldwide, only 5.5% of waste is composted - and in Chile only 0.4% - On the other hand, the Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources (2013) report states that household composting can potentially recover up to 150 kg of food waste per household per year.
There is no doubt, it's time to compose.
