Vermiculture in Egypt: - FAO - Regional Office for the Near East and

4.3. Overview of organic waste recovery options
Since organic material forms all farm wastes and a large proportion of urban refuse,
ways can be sought as to use this resource more effectively. Organic material can be
reused in three ways:
- to feed animals (fodder),
- to improve the soil (compost),
- to produce energy (biogas or briquettes).
The first two options are already very common in economically less developed
countries. In Lahore, Pakistan, for example, 40% of urban refuse is collected by
farmers and used as animal feed and soil amendment.
4.3.1. Feeding animals
Raising animals is the easiest possibility; in most cases organic waste can be fed
directly to domestic animals without pretreatment, but cooking or the addition of
nutrients may sometimes be necessary. This strategy refers to diverting food not
appropriate for human consumption to animal feed. While a potentially useful outlet
for food scraps that otherwise would be disposed, this avenue tends to be limited
primarily to food processors and beer industries and may not be feasible for urban
institutions. In some cases, rural corrections facilities and land-grant colleges have the
appropriate combination of circumstances that allows for the collection and feeding of
certain food scraps to on-site animals.
4.3.2. Compost
Composting is the microbial decomposition of discarded organic materials under
controlled conditions. The end product, compost, is used as an organic soil
amendment. It promotes microbiological activity in soils necessary for plant growth,
disease resistance, water retention and filtration, and erosion prevention. Compost can
be used in various ways. As a soil amendment, compost enhances the physical,
chemical, and biological properties of soil. The macro-nutrient value of compost is
typically not high relative to fertilizers. Compost enriches the soil by increasing
organic matter. Additionally, compost increases soil‟s capacity to hold water. By
amending soil with compost, soil is better able to hold nutrients. Nutrients do not
leach as easily; rather, they are released more slowly to plants, which can reduce the
need for fertilizers. Compost can also suppress fungal diseases in soil, which can be
particularly important to the golf and nursery industries.
The utilization of earth worms, as discussed previously, could play a strong role in
converting organic wastes, whether urban or rural, into a valuable vermicompost
material.
4.3.3 Landfill disposal or incineration
This strategy refers sending organic materials to a disposal facility to be landfilled or
incinerated. This is considered the least desirable strategy from a social,
environmental, and sometimes economic perspective.
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