The blog is written by Liisa Karlsson in June 2022. It is associated with the Lahti Living Lab Bokashi bio composting experiment and Cities2030 Horizon 2020 project.
Money
The city of Lahti is obligating the properties of five or more dwellings to sort and separate the collection of biowaste by 1 July 2022. Biowaste is then collected by independent companies leading to increased waste expenses for the households. An alternative to a separate collection of biowaste is composting biowaste with a composter which will save money. This obligation comes from a new waste act that entered into force in July 2021(City of Lahti, 2022).
In large quantities, compost can replace the chemical fertilizers and retain soil moisture so you water less. These points can accumulate to big money savings for individual households.
Improve your soil
Instead of paying to take the biodegradable household waste to landfills, it can be used to improve the soil of your land. Compost reduces soil nutrient loss and erosion by returning valuable nutrients to the soil. Thus, helping to maintain soil quality and fertility.
Big picture
Composting your waste will greatly benefit society and reduces your impact. Bio composting saves resources by keeping the valuable compost material out of the landfill, extending its lifespan. Also, less waste needed to be collected and transported will reduce fuel use.
In landfills biomass breaks down without proper access to oxygen, slowing down the composting process and producing methane and carbon dioxide gas. In addition, buried organics can react with metals and plasticizers through water flow in the landfill to produce leachate, a potential source of groundwater pollution.
Replacing chemical fertilizers with compost would lessen the eutrophication of our water bodies caused by the chemical runoff. And in long run leads to reduced social costs of eutrophication.
Household methods of composting
Household biowaste can be composted in a well-ventilated closed composter all year around. Other methods are the Bokashi method and Worm Composter. Although according to the city of Lahti these methods aren’t sufficient on their own but require additional composting with a traditional composter.
This blog is associated with the Lahti Living Lab experiment on Bokashi bio composting. The Lahti Living Lab and the experiment engages new entrants to test and learn about Bokashi bio composting.
The aim of the experiment is to identify drivers, enablers, and obstacles of household food waste bio composting, and to devise and test improvements, practices, and solutions to promote household bio composting.
The bokashi experiment promotes inhabitants’ carbon handprint, self-sufficiency, and resilience.
The Lahti Living Lab embraces also Lahti region waste management authorities and waste management operator that is Salpakierto Oy. Together they guide biowaste handling in the region. In addition, Esbau who is the retailer of BioProffa equipment contributes to the action together, with other Bokashi experts. The Regional Council of Päijät-Häme promotes City Region Food Systems transition toward sustainability.
The experiment is supported by the Horizon 2020 project Cities2030.
Smart & Lean 