TY - JOUR

T1 - Best practice for bio-waste collection as a prerequisite for high-quality compost

AU - Friege, Henning

AU - Eger, Yasmin

N1 - The survey was part of the master thesis performed by Yasmin Eger. We are indebted to all interview partners for their time and their valuable and transparent information. f4transcription software and f4analysis (all media equipment, e.g., audio recording, transcription devices, etc.) was provided by Leuphana University. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

PY - 2022/1/1

Y1 - 2022/1/1

N2 - Due to its high content of humic substances, compost from bio-waste improves the structure and fertility of soils serving also as a sink for CO2. But compost is also contaminated with numerous compounds, for example, plastics, glass particles, etc., mostly due to incorrect sorting by the waste producer, that is, households. The contamination even increases when covering areas of a high population density as is also evident from experience in Germany with a steadily increasing proportion of bio-waste. Only compost with high quality and minimum contamination is an acceptable fertilizer. A structured interview of experts investigated which measures or combinations of measures are best suitable to reduce the rate of misplaced materials in the organic waste. Only responsible persons were interviewed whose municipalities extensively collect separately bio-waste since years and have a low rate of unwanted materials. The questions focus on the identification of the misplacements according to their kind and quantity, the respective collection system, the regional statutes and their enforcement as well as the kind and extent of public awareness measures. The respective necessary measures are being discussed. This systemic approach can be transferred to other regions that intend to collect large quantities of bio-waste separately.

AB - Due to its high content of humic substances, compost from bio-waste improves the structure and fertility of soils serving also as a sink for CO2. But compost is also contaminated with numerous compounds, for example, plastics, glass particles, etc., mostly due to incorrect sorting by the waste producer, that is, households. The contamination even increases when covering areas of a high population density as is also evident from experience in Germany with a steadily increasing proportion of bio-waste. Only compost with high quality and minimum contamination is an acceptable fertilizer. A structured interview of experts investigated which measures or combinations of measures are best suitable to reduce the rate of misplaced materials in the organic waste. Only responsible persons were interviewed whose municipalities extensively collect separately bio-waste since years and have a low rate of unwanted materials. The questions focus on the identification of the misplacements according to their kind and quantity, the respective collection system, the regional statutes and their enforcement as well as the kind and extent of public awareness measures. The respective necessary measures are being discussed. This systemic approach can be transferred to other regions that intend to collect large quantities of bio-waste separately.

KW - bio-waste

KW - carbon sequestration

KW - compost

KW - microplastic

KW - Organic waste

KW - plastic

KW - public awareness

KW - separate collection

KW - source separation

KW - Biology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113140692&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/ace7e65c-3cf1-3a6c-ab65-79f169ac941e/

U2 - 10.1177/0734242X211033714

DO - 10.1177/0734242X211033714

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 34407712

AN - SCOPUS:85113140692

VL - 40

SP - 104

EP - 110

JO - Waste Management and Research

JF - Waste Management and Research

SN - 0734-242X

IS - 1

ER -