ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the business model and a case example that show the concept of subsidy-free community-based composting, and the notable potential it offers by organizing communities into a cooperative. The presented case study shows that subsidy-free community-based composting offers a solution for turning waste into wealth, but requires investments in social capital to organize and mobilize the communities. Business models with inherently sustainable funding mechanisms, such as a subsidy-free community-based composting initiative, are necessary. There is a higher probability of success as benefiting communities are involved in waste collection, separation and composting, plant management and ownership. The sustainability of this model is grounded in strong partnerships and the assured benefits (profit-sharing) accruing to each partner. The decentralised composting approach reduces transportation costs and makes use of low cost technologies based on manual labor and ensures that waste is well-sorted before it is composted.
