Composting in Rural Environments

ongoing

The management of the organic fraction in rural areas with low-density population is environmentally and economically impactful. Different solutions are required to collect, transport and treat sustainably small amounts of organic waste dispersed in distant and sparsely populated villages. Prevention of biowaste and the normalization of quality composting could contribute to the drastic reduction of this fraction and of the effects derived from its management. The compost produced can be used as soil-improving material and fertilizer in local and regional parks and gardens or in the form of biogas, while further uses could be promoted. Despite the fact that regional and local policies observe all the transition to circular economy and guide the transitioning of the waste management sector towards it, composting is often not sufficiently developed, notwithstanding its potential to comply not only with circular economy but also with the mitigation of climate change. GOALS: Mainstreaming compost in rural areas. Develop best practices to support the logistics of composting in rural areas. Furthering the goal of a circular bio-economy. CORE aims at rural low-density territories and leading the process of spreading and mainstreaming the treatment of biowaste. The prevention of biowaste and the establishment of quality composting could be a big contribution. The compost produced can be useful for soil improvements in local, regional parks, and gardens and as well in agriculture. The project is expected to be an accelerator for rural territories to increase composting and the overall prevention of landfilling or burning of biowasre significantly. OUR PARTNERSHIP: The project brings together regional and local administrations with competences on biowaste management from 8 rural regions from all over Europe, with the aim of exchanging their experiences on composting. The European Compost Network (ECN) accompanies them in the role of advisory partner.

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