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Why compost and residual waste are not together? (lemmy.today)

submitted 7 months ago by Capricorn@lemmy.today to c/environment@beehaw.org

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In Italy (and in most countries I've visited), waste sorting typically involves two distinct categories for compost and residual waste.

Question: Why is compost disposed of in a separate collection rather than with residual waste? Are there any environmental differences if it decomposes together with dry waste versus separately? Is it a matter of disposal efficiency, or is it simply another administrative complexity?

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[–] Capricorn@lemmy.today 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Rules for the "compost waste" doesn't apply for making the compost that you use as a fertilizer. Maybe that's why we call it "wet". It's basically anything that is biodegradable. But not everything that is biodegradable is ok for fertilizing...

[–] morhp@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 7 months ago

"compost waste" will usually be used as fertilizer. It depends on the region, but they'll often extract bio gas first and the residue will be further processed by machines and bacteria into compost or fertilizer.

Other garbage will usually be burned and then buried. Maybe partially recycled. But completely different processes.