The utilization of any end product as fertilizer also remain on the earth that contribute for pollution and global warming through the release of greenhouse gases. Then how it is zero waste?
Hi Abdul,
Are you talking about organic wastes only? or you referring to all industrial byproducts?
Regards,
Dimpho
Thanks, I m talking about organic waste which can be used as fertilizer after its utilization.
The law of Conservation of mass or principle of mass conservation states that for any system closed to all transfers of matter and energy, the mass of the system must remain constant over time, as system mass cannot change quantity if it is not added or removed. Hence, the quantity of mass is "conserved" over time.
If you consider only agricultural system (including CO2 and water vapour) then the process may call as Zero waste approach because these gases are recycling every time along with the nutrients. But when you are going to see these conversion as pollutant, then you have to consider that anything of any quantity at any wanted place is pollutant (like WEED). This is a recycling process and through this process we are trying to regain some lost thing from unwanted sources. Overall mass and energy of this universe is constant. Thus, there is no such question of WASTE. From my point of view, we may call it a (partially) zero waste process.
If Organic waste, and if they are managed in a way that no appreciable quantities of CH4 are emitted, then Dr. Towe’s comment (above) is perfectly correct.
Dear Prof. Towe:
Thanks for reply. You are right, CO2 is not a pollutant.. When we burried or mix any fertilizer then it can release greenhouse gases (like CO2 and CH4) along with some other pollutants due to biodegradation of waste that we are using as fertilizer, then how we can say that it is a zero waste?
Regards.
DR. KHAN
Nice to discuss with all valuable researchers, it is very fruitful conversation. However it need further clearity. I will gothrough the literature then contact you back.
Dear Prof. Towe, I am happy to take the advantage of your broad spectrum of knowledge in this direction.
Regards.
DR. KHAN
Abdul,
I think conversion of organic waste to fertilizer shouldn't be a problem particularly if the waste is stabilized. For instance there is lot of research on the stabilization of organic waste through methods such vermicomposting and even pyrolysis to produce biochar can stabilize organic waste.
Regards,
Dimpho
Thanks dear Dimpho, very nice example of biochar for stabilized fertilizer. Plz little explain vermicomposting.
Dear Prof. Towe: When the organic waste undergo biodegradation then CH2O is converted into H2O and CO2 which is the reverse of photosynthesis. It means that the biodegradation of zero waste (fertilizer) is contributing a lot towards global warming due to the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Regards.
DR. KHAN
Hi Abdul,
In vermicomposting you are using earthworms to produce compost. The compost produced from this process is more humified compared to the thermophilic compost.
Regards,
Dimpho
Correct.
Biogenic (short-term) Carbon cycle does not contribute to global warming (unless biogenic waste emits CH4 and/or N2O)
Dear Prof. Towe:
Thanks for sharing your broad spectrum of knowledge, that is very informative and valuable.
Regards.
DR. KHAN
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