Factory shutdown waste is a specific category of food loss that takes place when manufacturing facilities pause operations for scheduled breaks, especially during the festive season. These closures are routine across the food sector and are usually planned for late December when factories close for Christmas and the New Year. The pause often looks simple […]
Understanding factory shutdown waste during the festive season Read More »
Sustainable waste management relies on a clear and well-established principle: the waste hierarchy. This model guides organisations, municipalities, and industries on how to handle waste in a way that reduces environmental impact and maximises material value. When applied to organic waste specifically, the waste hierarchy helps clarify where technologies like BiobiN fit in and why
Positioning BiobiN within the waste hierarchy Read More »
The idea of an “eco-estate” immediately leads us to picture sleek solar panels, indigenous green spaces, sustainable architecture, and sophisticated water recycling systems. These often aesthetically pleasing gated communities are designed to be beacons of sustainable living, existing in harmony with the surrounding environment. Yet, even in these green enclaves, a significant environmental responsibility often
The essential piece of true eco-living: Closing the loop with composting Read More »
South Africa’s landfill network is nearing a point where capacity constraints and non-compliance are converging into a national issue. Many municipal landfill sites have only a few operational years remaining, and several metropolitan areas have already confirmed critically low airspace. Landfills are not as simple as they may appear on paper. They are engineered systems
Across farms, storage facilities and kitchens, food moves through many systems before reaching our plates. It requires water, soil nutrients, energy and labour at each stage. The journey involves irrigation in the field, washing, milling in processing facilities, refrigeration and transport in distribution networks. These steps can be resource-intensive. When food does not get eaten,
The hidden resource costs in food waste and how composting offsets this Read More »
In South Africa, organic waste still accounts for more than 40% of material sent to landfill each year. This practice is both economically inefficient and environmentally damaging. By 2027, the ban on organic waste to landfill takes full effect. National government is likely to follow suit shortly after. Every business, whether in food, manufacturing, healthcare,
How can different sectors eliminate organic waste from landfill Read More »
Food security begins with the soil that sustains life. When the structure and fertility of soil are weakened, entire food systems become fragile. Composting provides a biological correction to this imbalance. It rebuilds organic matter, improves the soil’s ability to retain water, and restores the microbial life that supports healthy crops. Organic waste plays a
World Food Day: How composting can safeguard our food systems Read More »
Agriculture has long depended on the addition of nutrients to soil to maintain efficiency. Two of the most widely used soil amendments are fertiliser and compost. While both improve crop yields, they are fundamentally different in composition, function, and impact on ecological systems. Understanding these differences is critical for farmers, policymakers, and consumers who are
Think about the total scale of food and organic material passing through retail facilities. While food loss and waste should be reduced, there are volumes of food waste that are inevitable, whether due to spoilage, damaged packaging, cold chain failure, or product sell-by dates. Yet, when we see this waste purely as a disposal requirement
South Africa celebrates National Recycling Day on 21 September each year. The day is an important opportunity to reflect on how the country manages its waste and how ordinary people, communities, and businesses can contribute to more sustainable waste practices. Recycling is commonly associated with materials such as paper, glass, metal, and plastics. However, it
