Making Use of Organic Waste: An Opportunity for Citizen Participation and Sustainability in Colombia's Urban Centers

Abstract

In the Aburrá Valley, as in the rest of the country and, broadly, in Latin America, the United States, and Europe, organic waste accounts for 60% of solid waste and comes mainly from the residential sector. This waste causes serious environmental problems, as it shortens the lifespan of landfills and generates large amounts of leachate — highly polluting liquids — and gases, including methane, one of the main drivers of climate change. In Colombia, various composting initiatives aim to reduce the amount and impact of organic waste; however, most face limitations in terms of effectiveness. In the Aburrá Valley, the implementation of small-scale organic waste management projects, for example in residential complexes, has shown very encouraging results that allow the region's 2020 organic-waste processing target to be revised upward. In particular, the EARTHGREEN SAC system is presented as a highly efficient technological alternative for on-site composting in urban settings.