I was just recently subscribed to this list hoping to find answers to a lot
of questions arising from problems related to solid waste management.

Firstly, I am involved in a Non-goverment, non-profit organization here in
Leyte Island, Philippines. Our organization is currently piloting
sustainable agriculture / organic farming in two municipalities with an
average population of 30,000. In the course of our operation we have
realized that there is no viable source of organic fertilizers in the
province and in the nearby provinces that could support the need of the
communities engaging in the commercial farming system. Local composting
prove to be labor intensive and may not be viable considering the
availability of farm hands. Ironically, there is a lot of organic wastes
generated at the farm level and at the
municipal center. Almost 60 - 70% of the solid waste from the municipal
center that goes to the dump is organic or can be processed.

We do hope that there is a symbiotic solution to the problems of waste and
the requirement for organic fertilizer or soil enhancers. Browsing through volumes
of materials dealing with composting and vermi-composting and solid waste
management, we are overwhelmed by the immensity of solutions and the corresponding
financial and infrastructure requirement of such projects. Instead of clear
answers we only have the following questions:

1. How financially and economically viable composting of municipal solid
waste is for organic fertilizer?
2. Is their a working/best practice in this field in the Philippines under
similar conditions? where and how did it work?
3. Is there a technology that can support small-scale composting of
municipal solid waste? how does it work? infrastructure requirements? and
needed trash/waste to be economically and financially viable?

The local government units are very optimistic that this mill work. We
cautioned them about the above considerations and they want to know the
answers, but they are eager to support and finance it, even. I hope you can
give us your expert advice on this matter.

Thank you very much!

Respectfully yours,

Odin Olaya
Programme Dev't Officer
Peoples' Movement for Empowerment and Development
0601 San Salvador St., Buri, 6501 Palo, Leyte, Philippines
+63 53 3237515
http://www.peoplesmendleyte.homestead.com/index.html