ORASA – Organics Recycling Association of South Africa

Source separated organics

The key to organics recycling is source separation. The person who creates the organic waste should place it in a separate bin, it's as simple as that!

Processing

Organics can be processed in many ways, from composting to anaerobic digestion, nutrients and energy can be extracted and waste reused again and again.

Organics are essentially carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen. Whether they breakdown in composting into H2O, CO2 and organic fertiliser or are used as earthworm food, the nutrients created are never squandered.

Composting

An aerobic process with the correct balance of nitrogen and carbon which forms a stable nutrient compost - open or in-vessel composting.

Anaerobic Digestion

An anaerobic process in a sealed vessel to create biogas for electricity production.

Vermicomposting

The breakdown of organic material by earthworms into nutrient rich vermicomposting.

Black soldier flies

Processing of organic material with the grubs of the black soldier fly into feed for fish and chickens.

Bokashi composting

Odour control for food waste in an anaerobic environment.

Organic waste transport

Efficient and safe transport of dry and wet organic material.

The Department of Environmental Affairs is planning to prohibit all organic material from landfills by 2027. Consequently, alternative methods of processing organic material of all kinds into stable, reusable resources need to be found. Organic waste including food, industrial, wood and paper waste need to be handled responsibly to ensure there is no environmental damage. As an industry body we are ready to address the challenge of a landfill ban through our members' wide range of knowledge and the infrastructure they have invested in. Leading up to the ban, ORASA will be involved in public awareness campaigns and assist waste producers in diverting their waste from landfills.