As Arbor Week in South Africa approaches, there’s a growing conversation around the importance of urban greening and the beneficial role this plays in our cities. While planting trees and food gardens can have far-reaching environmental and social benefits, this can only be sustained if the soil is taken care of first. This is why we need to look at the role of composting in sustaining these green spaces and community food gardens. The retail and organic waste sector, in particular, has a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to urban greening projects by diverting food and organic waste from landfills and turning it into something beneficial, compost.
“In many urban areas, soil is compacted, lacking in nutrients, and unable to retain moisture effectively. This creates a challenging environment for trees and plants to thrive,” says Brian Küsel of BiobiN South Africa. “When we talk about urban greening, we often focus on what is visible to us, the trees, the parks, the green corridors. But what about what lies beneath? The health of soil is just as important, if not more so, than the plants it supports.”
Compost, made from food and organic waste is a hugely beneficial resource that have support soil health. The application of compost on strained soil bodies improves its structure, water retention capacity, nutrient content, and boosts its ability to support plant life. In essence, composting helps create the very foundation upon which urban greening efforts can succeed.
Diverting food and organic waste from landfills isn’t just about meeting waste diversion targets, it’s about creating something valuable from what would otherwise be discarded. This is where the concept of a circular economy comes into play. By turning waste into compost, we close the loop, ensuring that no resources are wasted.
For companies in the retail, agricultural, food production and waste sectors, supporting urban greening through composting is an opportunity to make a real, lasting impact. It’s a way to contribute to the health and sustainable functioning of our cities while also addressing some of the waste management challenges we face.
As we celebrate Arbor Week in September, it’s worth considering how your business can redesign its organic waste systems in a way that will be beneficial for the environment. The easiest and quickest model to adopt in an in-vessel composting unit to convert food waste into high-grade organic compost.
“It’s the perfect time to rethink our approach to waste management systems to recognize the potential that lies in every bit of organic material we discard. By composting, you are supporting the environment, sustainable food systems, clean air, unpolluted water resources, and biodiversity,” adds Küsel