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‘These heaps of garbage at the corners of the stone blocks, these tumbrils of mire jolting through the streets at night, these horrid scavengers’ carts, these fetid streams of subterranean slime which the pavement hides from you, do you know what all this is? It’s the flowering meadow, it is the green grass, it’s the marjoram and thyme and sage, it is nature, it is perfumed hay, it is golden corn, it is the bread on your table, the warm blood in your veins, it is health, it is joy, it is life …
Put that into the great crucible; your abundance shall spring from it; the nutrition of the plains makes the nourishment of men.’ from Les Misérables (Victor Hugo, 1862)
INTRODUCTION
In the heart of Durbanville, Cape Town, lies the upmarket residential estate of Clara Anna Fontein. Recently, Clara Anna Fontein established and implemented van organic green waste composting site as part of its commitment to conservation, development, and waste reduction and management. This unique and sustainable practice is transforming the way residents view their green waste.
BACKGROUND
Clara Anna Fontein recently set up and operationalised an organic green waste composting site as part of its efforts to practise environmentally friendly waste management. This initiative aligns with the estate’s commitment to the environmental aspect of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) journey. Composting involves converting waste materials into useful products.
ESG serves as a formalised set of criteria used by investors to assess the potential of investing in an entity. ESG standards have broad applications and aim to promote responsible business practices, foster sustainability, and contribute to positive environmental and social outcomes.
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Some of the ESG standards encompass reducing an organisation’s carbon footprint and implementing an efficient waste management system (Environmental), implementing inclusive diversity policies and practices (Social), adhering to high ethical standards (Governance), and maintaining transparent engagement with stakeholders (Governance).
According to the State of the Environment report, Cape Town generated 1.64 million cubic tonnes of solid waste in 2021. But only 53,000 tonnes (or 3.2%) of organic waste was diverted from landfills in that year versus the average of 33% of organic waste composted worldwide.
The World Bank reports that we are responsible for generating on average 0.74 kilograms of waste per person per day. The global waste composition report indicates that food and green waste represent 44% of the total waste volume.
The benefits of a communal composting facility are manifold. It fosters community involvement as residents participate in waste management. It promotes resource utilisation by transforming waste into compost, a valuable soil amendment. It supports waste minimisation and on-site management, reducing the need for waste transportation.
From an environmental perspective, composting contributes to stewardship in several ways. It reduces landfill waste, thereby conserving space and reducing the environmental impact of waste disposal. It lowers greenhouse gas emissions, as composting releases less methane – a potent greenhouse gas – compared to the anaerobic decomposition that occurs in landfills, leading to the increase of pathogens in that rotting process creating hydrogen sulphide and bad amines.
It regenerates soils that are managed properly and also promotes carbon sequestration, as compost-enriched soils have a greater capacity to store carbon in the form of humus. It promotes soil health and biodiversity, creating healthier ecosystems in the estates’ green spaces. One of the by-products of the positive humification processes is glomalin, the glue that holds topsoil together and improves plant health.
THE GREEN INITIATIVE
Plant roots have a symbiotic relationship with beneficial bacteria and fungi, promoting better nutrient flow, and the healthier the plant, the more drought, pest, and disease-resistant it is.
The compost site at CAF was initiated by the Property Owners Association in consultation with Elke Watson of Second Opinion Consulting (Compost Management Plan and registration) and Nico Uys from Gobiofarming (microbes and soil science), and in collaboration with Melanie Martin, Onke Mququ, Luvo Mangcotywa and their team from Servest Landscaping, responsible for the execution of the compost management plan.
Instead of discarding their garden waste, residents are encouraged to deposit it at a central composting site provided by the Property Owners Association (POA). This green waste is then turned into valuable compost by the addition of soil microbes, then biologically matured and in turn enriching the estate’s gardens and green spaces.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Composting is a well-known activity that converts green waste into a beneficial product and contributes to positive environmental and social outcomes. By composting green waste on-site, the estate reduces the amount of waste going to landfills, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes biodiversity. Moreover, composting enriches the soil with nutrients, improves its structure, enhances its ability to retain water (for every 0.5% of humus created, the water-holding capacity doubles), and supports a healthy ecosystem of beneficial microorganisms.
THE FINANCIAL AND AESTHETIC BENEFITS
Financially, the estate saves 60% on costs associated with waste transportation and purchasing soil amendments like compost and mulch externally.
Aesthetically, the use of locally produced compost and mulch has led to noticeable improvements in the estate’s gardens and green spaces. The soil is healthier, plants are thriving, and the overall aesthetics of the landscape have been enhanced.
THE COMPOST MANAGEMENT PLAN
The formulation of a comprehensive Compost Management Plan is crucial and must include aspects like environmental compliance, organisational structure, composting activities, composting process, monitoring, human resources, environmental management, health, safety, and communication.
Garden waste is deposited at the site daily, chipped and mixed every second month, and constructed into windrows with water and microbial/fungal products for compost acceleration. Organically certified, beneficial microbes (supplied by Biodyne SA) are selected for their special capabilities to assist composting, and do this by degrading carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, reducing levels of hydrogen sulphide, and metabolising forms of inorganic nitrogen.
The CAF composting facility uses a closed aerobic windrow method, which is aesthetically pleasing, reduces volume loss, minimises dust, and requires less watering. Carbon loss is contained and high temperatures are achieved to ensure full biological breakdown and sterilisation of weed seeds.
Weekly temperature measurements are taken to monitor composting progress, and compost samples are analysed in an accredited laboratory for quality assurance.
A MODEL FOR OTHER ESTATES
The success of the composting initiative at Clara Anna Fontein serves as a model for other residential estates. It demonstrates how sustainable practices can be integrated into estate management for the benefit of the environment, the community, and the bottom line. We encourage all estates to explore how they can integrate similar practices into their operations.
The composting initiative at Clara Anna Fontein has not only transformed green waste into a valuable resource but has also contributed to creating healthier, more beautiful, and more sustainable gardens and green spaces. It’s a testament to the estate’s commitment to sustainability and a shining example of how green initiatives can create value on multiple fronts.
