ABSTRACT
Municipal solid waste in the global South often contains more than 70 per cent organic matter. In most cases this material is landfilled or dumped mixed in with inorganic waste. Under these circumstances the organic fraction generates liquid leachate, methane and other greenhouse gases, thus compromising environmental and human health. These materials can be recovered for the production of compost to fertilize the soil or to generate energy for heating and electricity. This chapter presents data on the scope of organic waste generation, briefly describes key environmental challenges related to landfilling organic waste and introduces some methods of capturing and recycling these resources. The debate is supported by sustainability and resilience theory. Different projects of organic waste recovery are presented, particularly the composting of household waste for food production in urban gardens. Recovering the organic fraction of source separated solid waste contributes towards tackling some of the planetary challenges we face today. Remaining questions involve the redesign of city spaces for decentralized composting and bio-digestion, as well as the re-education of society for responsible consumption and quality source separation. Reclaiming the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a sensible form of making urban environments more resilient; this already happens in some cities also in the global South.
