On May 7, we gathered the team for a new Lunch&Learn, this time with a theme acclaimed by many: how to set up a compost bin at home. The activity is part of our Zero Waste program, which invites the whole team to be environmentally responsible. The objective: to promote the triple R maxim: reduce, reuse and recycle our waste.

The talk was given by Gabriel Berterretche from Meta Sustentable, a company that collaborates with us in the implementation of the Zero Waste project, which allows us to classify 100% and recycle more than 80% of the waste generated in our work offices.

As the current context led us to work from our homes, we set out to bring Zero Waste home. To do this, it is essential to understand and evacuate all the doubts related to waste sorting (see note) and encourage us to experiment with composting. Gabriel showed us how simple the process is. «But it is as simple as baking bread», says Gabriel and adds: «Where not only desire is needed but also dedication in following a series of steps».

Reduce. The most important of the R  

For Gabriel, the commitment to reduce our waste is crucial. On average, it is estimated that everyone emits around 1kg of waste per day. Of that kilo, 50% would be organic, 25%-35% mixed (discarded) and 15% recyclable.

«If we talk about 1 kg, it doesn’t seem much, but if we think about the sum of each person, the damage is enormous,» explains Gabriel.

As a first duty, everyone should aim to reduce their waste. Either through recycling or composting, or both (ideally). In this way, we could reduce our actual waste to only 25%.

Habits that contribute to this, he adds, are also necessary. For example, choosing returnable packaging when buying products, thinking about giving them a second life and reducing the use of those that cannot be reused. Once we find these containers, we have to define which box, jar or bottle we can use and give them a function.

«Recycling is also important but it takes other processes. You can separate plastics, cartons, etc. to take to the recyclable containers in supermarkets, shopping malls and other sales centers,» says Gabriel. See program: Tu envase sirve 

Sorting. Pre-composting  

«We have to be aware of the waste we generate,» Gabriel explains. When we start separating, we become more aware of the waste we generate and we can make decisions.

To start with, we can identify garbage cans with 3 colors: green for recyclable waste (paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, in all cases clean), brown for compostable waste (fruits, vegetables, yerba mate, napkins and kitchen paper that is not very dirty) and gray for mixed or discarded waste (cooked/condimented food, sanitary toilet paper and everything that is not in the other two categories). The gray category is what we continue to throw in the traditional garbage can.

Composting  

One of the simplest methods to recycle organic waste is composting. The organic/compostable we can dump it in a composter that later will give us humus and leachate, ideal for our plants.

For the compostable Gabriel recommends incorporating a bucket with a lid to keep on the kitchen counter and throw shells, napkins, etc. in it. «When it’s full, we empty it into the composter.

To compost we have to see where to compost. Gabriel attended to the 2 realities: house and apartment.

Composting in apartment  

In the apartment it is necessary to devise a closed system to speed up the process, it can be with plastic or wooden boxes. And it is recommended to acquire worms. The worm, through its digestive tract, converts the organic remains into a stable product, with excellent qualities as a fertilizer, called vermicompost or worm humus.

There are several suppliers that sell compost bins, but they can also be homemade. The system is composed of shelves or drawers placed one on top of the other and connected by holes so that the worms can pass from one floor to another. There are three drawers that compose the vermicomposter: 2 upper drawers that have holes in the bottom, called digester drawers (where the worms digest the organic remains) and a third drawer that is the bottom one that does not have holes, this is the liquid collector drawer that generates the vermicomposter.

In the upper drawer is where we begin to place the organic waste generated in our homes (it is recommended to start with yerba mate, coffee and tea and then gradually add fruit and vegetable waste). A similar amount of dry organic matter should always be placed together with the fresh organic waste: dry leaves, wood shavings, straw or chopped cardboard. Depending on the generation of each household, this first bin will be filled in approximately 30 days. When it is full, it is necessary to exchange the digester boxes.

The one that is full goes down and we raise the second drawer that is empty to the top in order to continue placing organic residues. When this upper drawer is full again, more or less in 30 days, the lower drawer should be ready for the first harvest, where we will remove the already stabilized humus to be able to use it.

In this way this drawer will be free to be placed again in the upper part and continue receiving our organic remains. The process is a cyclical system that lasts approximately 60 days. When the system is working properly, we will have worms working in the two bins of our composter.

Composting at home

Composting at home is easier since you can choose between several composting systems, with or without worms, and it can be done directly in the soil. To do this, you must delimit a rectangular area, it can be 1mx50cm, with a wooden box, for example, and leave it semi-covered, so that it breathes but does not get water if it rains.

«It is good to put a small piece of wood in the middle of the compost bin to help us. We put organic waste on one side and when it is full we put it on the other», explains Gabriel.

We hope these tips have been useful so that you can apply Zero Waste in your home by going one step further with the compost bins. Adapt your balcony, kitchen, garden. It’s always a good time to start getting informed and taking action.

Times like these teach us how valuable it is to take care of the planet. Join us!

Contacts of interest:

Meta Sustentable: https://www.metasustentable.uy/

Lombriz Urbana (urban worm farm): https://www.instagram.com/lombriz_urbana/