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Composting, a practice that values our waste

To mark the International Day of Zero Waste, we bring you the story of the Honduran city of Comayagua, a reference in waste management, and its organic composting initiative.

By Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) en América Latina y el Caribe

March 29^th, 2023

Humanity generates an estimated 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid waste annually. A large portion of this trash is organic, which means it can quickly disintegrate, transforming into organic matter with potential use. The proper management of this organic waste, through its separation from other types of solid waste, allows us to take advantage of it and mitigate its contribution to the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is working to support governments to the environmentally sound management of waste through the prevention and reduction of waste generation. To mark the International Day of Zero Waste, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, we re highlighting a success story of organic waste management from Latin American and the Caribbean.

Composting, a practice that values our waste

Comayagua: environmentally sound management of waste

In Honduras, the city of Comayagua is positioned as an example in this matter. Since 2012 and the launch of its first Solid Waste Management Plan, efforts at the political and technical levels have been constant, managing to maintain a long-term vision. The investment in the socialization of the plan, as well as in the education in the city’s schools have brought awareness and allowed the appropriation of this vision among the population.

Comayagua’s plan nursery workers sifting organic fertilizer

The food scraps from different markets in the city, leaves and branches from the pruning of green spaces, residual sludge from municipal slaughterhouses and organic matter from the food industry are transferred to the facilities of the Municipal Plant Nursery. There, this organic waste enters a composting process, placing this initiative within the Circular Economy, a concept that proposes an economic and productive model in which goods are produced, consumed, recycled and produced again, consumed, recycled and so on.

Sustainable production of organic fertilizer

Upon entering the Municipal Plant Nursery, the organic waste is passed through a mincing machine, which speeds up the decomposition process by 30%. If the hot composting method is chosen, the waste is then placed in layers in mounds with flat tops. These mounds are regularly humidified and turned to homogenize the hot decomposition process. Between those interventions, the bundles are covered with large tarpaulins. After 75 to 90 days, the material is ready to be sifted, stored, and used as compost.

In addition to the hot composting method, the plant nursery uses another method called "vermicomposting". The worms, by consuming the waste, oxygenate the organic matter, avoiding the need for manual turning. This method does not emit gas, which is friendlier with municipal workers and with the fight against climate change. However, decomposition takes longer than with the hot composting method (approximately six months).

“We process [at the plant nursery] an amount of 140,000 pounds of organic waste a year. With this waste, we produce 70,000 pounds of organic fertilizer a year, of which 20,000 come from vermicomposting. The purpose of the Mayor's Office is to be an example so that people are aware of the importance of separating organic matter from another type of waste” says Carlos Gaitán, Head of the Municipal Plant Nursery of Comayagua

Carlos Gaitán, Head of the Municipal Plant Nursery of Comayagua

The COPs4 project, promoted by the Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment (SERNA for its Spanish acronym) of Honduras, in collaboration with the UNDP and with funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), accompanies the Municipality of Comayagua throughout this process. It is in charge, among others, of providing specialized laboratory support to establish the nutritional quality of the material produced and integrating this waste stream within the scope of the Comayagua Solid Waste Management Plan.

Generation of savings and income

The organic fertilizer generated by the Municipal Plant Nursery is used for the maintenance of the 47 municipal green spaces, including the Municipal Stadium and its extensive grass surface. It also serves to produce new plants such as timber, ornamentals and fruit trees. This organic fertilizer has made it possible to put an end to the purchase of agrochemicals by the mayor's office, generating substantial savings for this public institution, in addition to preserving the soil and groundwater of the municipality.

Part of the organic fertilizer is also sold to local companies as a nutritional supplement for organically produced crops. This generates additional income that can be invested in the growth of the plant nursery's installed capacity for composting. At this time, it is estimated that only 5 to 10% of the city’s organic waste is collected in Comayagua, which leaves a lot of room for growth for this project.

“With this initiative, Comayagua is positioning itself as a green and sustainable city at the national and international levels, which is our goal for the future. Solid waste management is a fundamental pillar of this strategy and the update of our Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan with the support of SERNA and UNDP, which will take place this year, will reinforce this ambition.” - Engineer Martha Mayes, Head of the Municipal Environmental Unit of Comayagua

Ingeniera Martha Mayes, Jefa de la Unidad Municipal Ambiental de Comayagua

UNDP contributes to waste management initiatives worldwide, from India with the development of a sustainable model for plastic waste management, to Malawi with the fight against the indiscriminate disposal of waste in open spaces, to the Bahamas with the management of post-disaster marine debris. Through these initiatives, the triple planetary crisis is addressed, protecting the environment, improving food security, health and human well-being.

Footnotes

Story and pictures: Juliette Daugan / PNUD Honduras

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FootNotes

Story and pictures: Juliette Daugan / PNUD Honduras

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