From Waste to Resource: Vermicomposting - A Sustainable Strategy for Organic Waste Management

 






	by Mahendra Saywack  		in 
		With an ever-increasing population, how can we maximise resource efficiency to meet our growing needs?	
	

  

  Mahendra Saywack  

      
    

   
Given the fact that the world’s population is ever increasing, we can expect the levels of organic waste to skyrocket as well. In my opinion, resource efficiency deals with getting more from using less. While there exists numerous ways we can maximize the use of our limited resources to meet our growing needs, for the purpose of this essay, I have focused primarily on the ways in which we can manage organic waste sustainably, as the world's population continues to grow at alarming rates.   In this essay I have incorporated findings from my personal research using a technology called vermicomposting which represents an alternative approach in waste management.   After reading my essay, I hope that you will be inspired to start making your own compost today. There is lots that can be done with waste, we just need to be resourceful and innovative.

  


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      Mon, 10/01/2011 - 16:40 — karen
  
  
  
    
This is by far the only essay


    

      
This is by far the only essay I have read which showed that the author is an agent of change. He was able to show through his personal research the potential of using a waste product as a resource. Many other essays have just proposed solutions which may work but in my opinion, this essay stands out since it shows that the author has done enough work to validate the effectiveness of his solution.


Vermicomposting is not a new area nor is solar energy or hydropower which many entries flock to discuss. No other essay has shown to a personal level how they have implemented a change in their daily lives or how effective their solutions are, since they only proposed measures.


Here we have an essay that was strictly based on showing that there is an alternative use for agricultural waste. Not only has the writer proved that the waste can be transformed into a fertiliser but he also showed that the fertiliser produced can serve as an efficient substitute for inorganic fertilisers. This is resource efficiency!

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 22/01/2011 - 14:35 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you :)


    

      
Thank you :)

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 08/01/2011 - 01:07 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you all for the


    

      
Thank you all for the support. Hope the results are announced soon.

          

  


      

  





  

      Thu, 06/01/2011 - 01:40 — Natalie Gontar
  
  
  
    
If you'd like to know my


    

      
If you'd like to know my opinion about the essays with many votes... I get the impression that people mostly like essays that generalize about methods and focus on the role of governments, organisations, committees, industry and business owners - talking about restrictions, regulations and other things they COULD do. (But WOULD they? Just because they all are mainly interested in money and getting MORE MONEY, I really doubt they would). Why so? Because most people wish someone else would do it for them - yes, we'd love to talk, give ideas and propose solution schemes, but as long as someone else does the work. There are people, anyway, who like essays that focus on what a single person is capable of doing and describe practical things everyone could participate in and contribute to. Such people like your essay a lot.

          

  


      

  






  

      Thu, 06/01/2011 - 15:27 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
I agree with you Natalie.


    

      
I agree with you Natalie. Everyone has their own view but we must remember that change can only begin with the individual so if all do not become actively involved in making changes then we cannot progress. No man is an island. We need to transform a society from the individual level. Many of the solutions I've read for this competition are awesome but how practical are they? Are they even financially feasible? Can they be implemented on a short basis? Most of them the answer is no. They require political input which in many poor developing countries is not possible since monies are used for other things. I believe that the method I proposed in my essay is realistic, relevant and practical. I did the research so I can prove it.If i can do it, certainly anyone can.


Thank you.


Good Luck

          

  


      

  






  

      Fri, 07/01/2011 - 23:41 — Natalie Gontar
  
  
  
    
I agree that your method is


    

      
I agree that your method is realistic, relevant and practical. I've also noted many ideas that sound good, but their authors would even probably fail to further explain HOW they could be realized, after giving a few brief statements. Some have more detailed descriptions, but are quite complicated. Some are more simple and great but would only have good results if multiplied by the efforts of many people who want to make a change and understand how important it is.


Then, there are things that require some initial effort from a local community or a group of people - and they can set a good example to the others and encourage everyone around to join in. That's about your method, too, and that's what I really like about it. Besides, most authors would have little to say if asked "what have you personally done to make a change?" (that question is a good topic for a separate competition, I guess). You are probably the only one who dipped his hands in waste to get his own results and describe them. A great and outstanding example!

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 08/01/2011 - 01:05 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you so much. I hope the


    

      
Thank you so much. I hope the judges feel he same way. Many persons have commented and said they didnt find my essay interesting or impressive to them. I'm glad you feel different and recognise the amount of work that went into writing the essay. It wasn't just about writing personal thoughts and ideas, I actually combined personal research into my essay. In this way it could be seen that recycling vegetable waste is possible and the resource is produced can be effectively used as an organic fertiliser. Many persons as you noted just provide detailed descriptions or too simple essays. Not many have showed on an individual level that they are ready and capable of being that agent of change. Thank you once again for the support. Good luck

          

  


      

  






  

      Tue, 04/01/2011 - 10:40 — anwar
  
  
  
    
I read it due to so many


    

      
I read it due to so many votes you have recieved but unfortunately it did not impress me. your effort is good but how you got so many votes...this is questionable..

          

  


      

  






  

      Tue, 04/01/2011 - 19:03 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Yet you do not question the


    

      
Yet you do not question the other entries with 100+ votes. I'm not the only participant who has more than 100 votes for my photos/essay. Thank you for your comment, sorry the essay didn't impress you. Good luck

          

  


      

  





  

      Tue, 04/01/2011 - 17:35 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you.


    

      
Thank you.

          

  


      

  






  

      Mon, 03/01/2011 - 15:46 — akhyar
  
  
  
    
This is only one way but


    

      
This is only one way but comprehensive strategy is needed.  A coommon strategy for all the resources and this could be done in way as expressed one of the participant Asia in her essay five dimensional approach.... Anyhow it is a good effort.

          

  


      

  






  

      Mon, 03/01/2011 - 17:25 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you for your comment.


    

      
Thank you for your comment.

          

  


      

  






  

      Sun, 02/01/2011 - 23:36 — Natalie Gontar
  
  
  
    
Since your essay is great, no


    

      
Since your essay is great, no surprise it has so many comments. (And your photos, too). It's quite sad though that some people are just unable to say anything good about the work of the others. I wonder why are such people reading what the others wrote if they think everyone else is wrong? Waste isn't a RESOURCE? Well, a big part of all our resources is already there, and if we keep having this consumer-commercial approach to our life and environment, pretty soon waste will be the only resource on this miserable Earth. Who does not agree?

          

  


      

  






  

      Sun, 02/01/2011 - 23:51 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
I like the way you think. I


    

      
I like the way you think. I gave my essay that title because we often associate "waste" as something that needs to be discarded because it has lived out its usefulness. It is only when we can come to realise that the very waste we dump has untapped potential for other industries then we can achieve sustainability and resource efficiency. We need to start thinking of waste as a resource and maximise its use. This essay may not have discussed a thousand ways to maximise resources but it surely explained a useful way we can address the issue of waste management in rapidly growing world. I believe that waste management is one of the critical issues that need urgent attention, hence, that is why I made it my duty to focus only on this one area. Let's try to tackle one big issue at a time instead of addressing problems in an adhoc manner. 

          

  


      

  






  

      Fri, 31/12/2010 - 12:36 — janjan
  
  
  
    
actually i think someone else


    

      
actually i think someone else has said this already, this cannot be done everywhere, since we are not all living in houses, and have no gardens, it is a great way for you todo that in your country, who knows maybe it will work.

          

  


      

  






  

      Fri, 31/12/2010 - 16:31 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Janjan, please note that I'm


    

      
Janjan, please note that I'm not saying that every household should practice vermicomposting, thats not possible for the obvious reasons of space etc. Vermicomposting is NOT meant to be a done on a small scale, what I would suggest is for communities to come together and set up vermitech units. Instead of disposing the organic kitchen waste and garden waste/ yard waste everyone can carry their waste to a special community unit where the waste can be transformed into valuable fertiliser. 


My research has validated the potential of vermicompost derived from vegetable waste as an organic fertiliser which can give statistically similar results in growth to that of inorganic fertiliser. You should know that inorganic fertiliser requires lots of fossil fuels to be burnt in order for it to be produced and problems like euthrophication often occur. With vermicompost, nutrients are released only when the plants need them so there is a longer time required for reapplication due to the slow release mechanism of vermicompost as opposed to inorganic fertilisers; when the nutrients dissolve with inorganic fertilisers, they are readily depleted. Hence, vermicompost is far more sustainable.


I used my country Guyana as an example to show everyone how much waste can be accumulated in just one day, and that waste is often discarded at landfills. Vermicomposting, presents a viable opportunity to decompose and convert the organic fraction of waste into a valuable resource which can be used to enhance crop productivity, reduce our dependency on inorganic fertilisers and at the same time minimise the amount of waste discarded at landfills. 


Thank you.


Good Luck

          

  


      

  






  

      Thu, 30/12/2010 - 21:26 — janjan
  
  
  
    
You create the impression


    

      
You create the impression that you are the one who has invented the vermocomposting thing. 

          

  


      

  






  

      Thu, 30/12/2010 - 23:43 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Huh? I in no way create such


    

      
Huh? I in no way create such an impression. I believe that solutions dont have to be original and elaborate. Vermicomposting has been around for years and in my research I had to cite some of the most recent studies that were done. No one else chose to discuss anything about waste management in their essays. If populations increase so will organic waste. There is no need to come up with a new fancy technology to address such a problem. We need to use what we have and vermicomposting is a technology which can be used. 

          

  


      

  






  

      Thu, 30/12/2010 - 23:47 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
By the way, I enjoyed reading


    

      
By the way, I enjoyed reading your essay. Excellent piece 

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 29/12/2010 - 23:01 — Alex Mohamed
  
  
  
    
wow. saywack exudes


    

      
wow. saywack exudes brilliance , and a mastery of the topic at hand. so young, yet so wise. good going, whore.

          

  


      

  






  

      Thu, 30/12/2010 - 01:20 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Hhahahahah....Alex you are


    

      
Hhahahahah....Alex you are full of problems. Thanks for the "kind" words :)

          

  


      

  





  

      Wed, 29/12/2010 - 22:13 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Nice pics...


    

      
Nice pics...

          

  


      

  





  

      Wed, 29/12/2010 - 17:30 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Your pics are so


    

      
Your pics are so gorgeous....Hope you like mine too..

          

  


      

  






  

      Tue, 28/12/2010 - 02:20 — bonita
  
  
  
    
I like this essay a lot


    

      
I like this essay a lot

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 29/12/2010 - 17:31 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
:) thank you


    

      
:) thank you

          

  


      

  






  

      Sun, 26/12/2010 - 03:19 — roland
  
  
  
    
read you essay mahendra, this


    

      
read you essay mahendra, this is what sustainable development is about

          

  


      

  






  

      Sun, 26/12/2010 - 14:05 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you very much..means a


    

      
Thank you very much..means a lot

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 25/12/2010 - 17:15 — Festus Brew Quansah
  
  
  
    
i see a lot of creativity and


    

      
i see a lot of creativity and intelligence. Keep it up.

          

  


      

  






  

      Sun, 26/12/2010 - 14:05 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you :)


    

      
Thank you :)

          

  


      

  






  

      Fri, 24/12/2010 - 01:54 — workwidit
  
  
  
    
Interesting essay, very well


    

      
Interesting essay, very well put together, wish you success.

          

  


      

  






  

      Fri, 24/12/2010 - 02:00 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you...


    

      
Thank you...

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 09:46 — mastermindh
  
  
  
    
 Well nice one
I think it


    

      
 Well nice one


I think it deserves a LAPTOP....

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:13 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you.  lol.. yes I hope


    

      
Thank you.  lol.. yes I hope I win it.

          

  


      

  






  

      Tue, 21/12/2010 - 13:25 — warren1990
  
  
  
    
Brilliant ideas my friend!


    

      
Brilliant ideas my friend! You show great originality and fluency when putting your suggestion into words.It seems you have an aptitude for convincing people.One more thing I would like to comment on is your excellent English:your use of the language is really skilful.I participated in this competition as well but honestly,my essay seems so inferior to yours.Good luck!

          

  


      

  






  

      Tue, 21/12/2010 - 20:05 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you so much. I don't


    

      
Thank you so much. I don't see your essay. Have you submitted as yet? 

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 11:01 — warren1990
  
  
  
    
I submitted it yesterday and


    

      
I submitted it yesterday and currently it is being reviewed by the online editors to make sure it complies with the regulations.Perhaps it will be posted in the next 2 or 3 days.Hope you will spend some time reading it and giving me some somments.

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:12 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Ok great, most definitely. I


    

      
Ok great, most definitely. I can't wait to read yours. I'm sure you will do well. Thanks again for the support. 

          

  


      

  






  

      Sun, 19/12/2010 - 04:57 — Tasha
  
  
  
    
really enjoyed reading


    

      
really enjoyed reading Mahendra. Keep it up!

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:16 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you :)


    

      
Thank you :)

          

  


      

  






  

      Sun, 19/12/2010 - 03:56 — Krystal
  
  
  
    
very well done


    

      
very well done

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:15 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
I hope the judges feel the


    

      
I hope the judges feel the same way :) Thank you

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 18/12/2010 - 21:11 — Nalini
  
  
  
    
Enjoyed how you brought out


    

      
Enjoyed how you brought out some important points that we all seem to ignore and pay no attention about.. Excellent work!

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:15 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you, I hope it has


    

      
Thank you, I hope it has inspired you to try your own compost soon

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 18/12/2010 - 20:42 — Varuni
  
  
  
    
very well put together


    

      
very well put together thoughts of waste

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:14 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you. I'm hoping for the


    

      
Thank you. I'm hoping for the best

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 18/12/2010 - 20:18 — Neha
  
  
  
    
Great job mahendra!


    

      
Great job mahendra!

          

  


      

  






  

      Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:13 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thank you :) 


    

      
Thank you :) 

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 18/12/2010 - 05:02 — Jasmine
  
  
  
    
Points very well brought to


    

      
Points very well brought to light. Waste is indeed important to us

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 18/12/2010 - 05:07 — Mahendra Saywack
  
  
  
    
Thanks for reiterating the


    

      
Thanks for reiterating the importance of waste. 

          

  


      

  






  

      Sat, 18/12/2010 - 04:48 — Dhankumaire
  
  
  
    
Very well done... keep it up!


    

      
Very well done... keep it up!