Wednesday, 22 March 2023 is World Water Day, dedicated towards accelerating water conservation, safeguarding natural water resources, and increasing access to water for drinking and sanitation. This is a global priority and is recognised under the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6).
Water scarcity and drought has affected many countries and is quickly becoming more severe in many parts of Africa, including South Africa. We need to explore every measure to conserve our water resources, for people, the environment, and our agricultural systems.
Identified as a significant pollution threat to many water sources, our waste can render a water source undrinkable or unfit for sanitation if it is not managed correctly. Instances where inadequate waste management can lead to water pollution include the accumulation of litter and illegal dumping, effluent run-off, and a compromised landfill liner.
To mitigate these risks of water pollution businesses and consumers can implement better ways to manage their waste, especially organic waste. Enclosed composting vessels process volumes of food and organic waste, while containing any leachate that is produced through the decomposition process. Using this alternative waste treatment method reduces the risk associated with transporting waste to be treated off-site. On-site composting also allows us to divert organic waste from landfill, where it can potentially contaminate groundwater through leachate generation.
Using compost in agriculture also has its benefits towards water conservation. Replacing the use of fertilizer with organic compost reduces the risk of an excess nutrient run-off which can cause algal blooms in nearby water sources.
To find out more about this innovative way to deal with your company’s food and organic waste, visit www.biobin.co.za