Solid Waste Management and Recycling

202 CHRISTINE FUREDY

Most, but not all, recovery and reuse is ‘informal’ and long-standing, or ‘customary.’
(Fertilizer and feed production are carried out by the corporate sector as well). The
quantities of wastes involved and the costs and benefits of reuse practices cannot be
estimated at the present level of knowledge. The informal and undocumented nature
of most practices poses problems for ensuring safe and sustainable waste reuse.

Figure 9.1. Reuse of urban organic solid wastes in developing countries

Source: adapted from Furedy, Maclaren and Whitney 1997

Household

reuse

Backyard

composting

Neighborhood

composting and

vermicomposting

Urban animal

feeding, fodder

production

Centralized

composting and co-

composting plants

Peri-urban animal

feeding

"Garbage farms"

Peri-urban and

rural farms

Informal peri-urban

composting

Fertilizer factories

Mushroom

growing

Home kitchens

Backyards

Restaurants, hotels,

wedding halls

Green markets

Municipal solid

waste collection

Garbage dumps

Urban dairies,

piggeries

Slaughterhouses

Racecourses

(horse manure)

Urban and peri-urban

reuse

Waste source