Composting: Dirty riches. [Composting organic wastes from the municiple solid waste stream]

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · World Watch; (United States)

OSTI ID:6276702

Sachs, A

Up to three-quarters of municiple solid waste (MSW) is organic, readily biodegradable material, such as food, leaves, and paper. If this waste were allowed to root properly, the solid waste crisis would be less serious. However, rotting isn't easy in a tightly packed mountain of garbage at a typical landfill. The last few years have at least established composing as a rising green industry, especially in the most populous regions of the developed world. However, the variety of composting programs is too inefficient to divert any more than a tiny fraction of the compostable waste stream away from landfills and incinerators. This article discusses the problems of mixed municiple solid wastes and composting organic wastes, and possible solutions.

• OSTI ID: 6276702
• Journal Information: World Watch; (United States), Journal Name: World Watch; (United States) Vol. 6:4; ISSN 0896-0615; ISSN WOWAEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
COMPOSTING
FOOD
INCINERATORS
LEAVES
MANAGEMENT
MUNICIPAL WASTES
ORGANIC WASTES
PROCESSING
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SOLID WASTES
URBAN AREAS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES