Vegetable Waste to Zero Waste in La Pinata, Chile

[Judi Lynn]

Vegetable Waste to Zero Waste in La Pinata, Chile
Sunday, 09 December 2012 07:22 By Cecilia Allen and Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Other Worlds | Report

~snip~

The Chilean community of La Pintana has found that recycling the largest segment of their waste – fruits, vegetables, and yard clippings – can save them money, produce valuable compost, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program cost very little to initiate and is already making a substantial contribution to the community’s financial and environmental sustainability.

Despite belonging to the national capital region, La Pintana is one of the poorest communities in Chile, and 80 percent of the environmental agency’s budget is allocated to the collection and disposal of solid waste. While other governments might see this as an obstacle to the incorporation of waste prevention and resource recovery strategies, La Pintana focused on making better use of its available resources.

The head of Dirección de Gestión Ambiental (Environmental Management Agency) of La Pintana explained the municipality’s decision to take a new approach to waste management with the adage, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting to achieve different results.” Recognizing, as well, the importance of continuing that which is working well, the La Pintana commune identified all the actors involved in waste management (e.g., businesses, formal and informal recyclers, citizens, government bodies) and their different levels of responsibility in waste generation. The municipality understands that discarded materials are resources, and as a result, waste is viewed as an opportunity, not as a problem to get rid of. The municipality also understands that the solutions need to be local; the further waste travels from the point of generation, the bigger a problem it becomes, and the more likely its management will be unsustainable.

Separation and Collection

In December of 2005 the municipality launched its new program. Unlike many materials recovery strategies adopted in Latin America, this one did not focus on recycling dry materials, but on recovering vegetable waste. This decision was fundamental, since vegetable waste is the largest waste stream, the one that makes recovery of recyclables more difficult, and the one that creates greenhouse gas emissions andcontaminantsin landfills. The program was built upon existing infrastructure and local financial resources. It has been steadily growing since its launch, and while it still has only modest participation rates, there is an ongoing effort to increase participation whenever the budget allows for more public education campaigns.

More:
http://truth-out.org/news/item/13221-vegetable-waste-to-zero-waste-in-la-pinata-chile

[hollysmom]

1. Well, despite my neighbors complaints that I am attracting "critters"

I have a mulch pile in back of my house for leaves and vegetables. It is behind their garage. they rea;y dont have to look at it, but they do like to complain. When I moved here 30 years ago,. everyone had a mulch pile, but the young rich have moved in and cut down their ancient oaks so they don't have to rake and have their lawn guys mulching (which raised their yard a foot and now I get water in my basement, thank you very much) and their dangerous chemicals. Everyone wants to see all manicured yards, they complain when I sit in front and dig weeds out by hand, well, this is a pointless rant.....

Anyway. the garbage dumps are closing and we have to take stuff further away, I am saving tax money, they should realize that, and use my mulch in my own vegetable gardens, where I pick the bugs off by hand.

Meat waste goes to the dog, but bones do get thrown out, I put out garbage about once a month. recycle paper and bulk mail and can's and glasses and furniture and appliances get stolen in the middle of the night, so I guess that is recycling in away.

[xfundy]

2. It's just common sense.

With the advent of chemical fertilizers, composting fell by the wayside and organic scraps, leaves, etc. became just another form of garbage to be hidden somewhere else.

Really stupid, but profit must be made.

[Flabbergasted]

3. In Portland our family has trimmed our garbage to two bags a month....

We recycle vegetable waste in the back yard, most other organic waste is picked up by the garbage hauler.

We recycle hard plastic and plastic film up the street and of course paper, some plastic, scrap metal and glass at the curb.

I fill one garbage can a month. I think if we worked at it we could reduce it to one bag a month but we'd have to reduce packaging by being careful about what we buy.

Portland now recycles about 50% of it's waste.

[XemaSab]

4. I've been vermicomposting

Let me tell y'all, there is some gorgeous stuff coming out of that box o' nasty.

I dumped a bunch of black gold on a small bed about two months ago, and last week I went to plant something and I stuck my hori-hori knife into the soil and it was like cutting through a cake.

All this from funkdefied veggies and moldy breads and shredded paper and fallen leaves.

[CRH]

5. +1 vermicomposting is now, ...

the principle source of nourishment for my garden.