Circular Biowaste Management and its Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Abstract Rapid urbanisation coupled with poor waste management practices has led to biowaste accumulating in landfills and dumpsites in cities, far from the agricultural soils that it could fertilise. The mismanagement of biowaste is leading to the depletion of soils, pollution of water courses and emission of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, the use of synthetic fertilisers is resulting in severe depletion of soil microbiology and causing almost irreversible damage to ecosystems. Biowaste is an abundant source of nutrients and energy that is available wherever humans live. By collecting biowaste separately to other non-biological wastes and managing it according to the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles, its contribution to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is broad and significant, especially in relation to SDGs 2, 12, 13 and 15, with contributions to a number of others. This chapter discusses the potential of the circular bioeconomy to protect public health, strengthen the global food supply, reduce energy poverty and decelerate anthropogenic climate change.