Source Separated Organics or SSO is the system by which waste generators segregate compostable materials from other waste streams at the source for separate collection.

Types of Materials

Organic materials — yard trimmings, food scraps, wood waste, and paper and paperboard products —typically make up about a third (by weight) of the municipal solid waste stream. SSO programs depend on the composition of local waste stream, acceptance specifications for the organics processing facility, and collection methods. In general the following types of organic materials are collected:

Food waste

Food waste

Food waste or food loss is food that is discarded or lost uneaten. As of 2011, 1.3 billion tons of food, about one third of the global food production, are lost or wasted annually. Loss and wastage occurs on all steps in the food supply chain...

Organic residues generated by the handling, storage, sale, preparation, cooking, and serving of foods including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish, bones, rice, beans, pasta, bakery items, cheese, eggshells, and coffee grounds

Paper Fibers

Waxed cardboard, napkins, paper towels, uncoated paper plates, tea bags, coffee filters, wooden crates and greasy pizza boxes

Wood Waste

Urban wood waste, woody debris from suburban land clearing, and rural forestry residuals

Programs

SSO programs have been launched in a wide range of venues including: single-family residential units; commercial businesses such as supermarkets, restaurants, and coffee shops; events; food processors; schools; hospitals; theme parks; airports. The United States EPA has assembled a list of Food Waste Management Tools and Resources to assist communities interested in launching their own food waste reduction and collection efforts. SSO materials are typically collected in wet strength paper bags, unlined plastic bins, or compostable film-plastic liners that meet ASTM 6400 standards.

Benefits

The organic fraction of the waste stream is increasingly viewed as a resource. The resulting products – renewable energy and compost – benefit the environment: reduce greenhouse gas emissions; reduce dependency on foreign energy imports; increase the nutrient composition of our soils; reduce the amount of waste going to landfills; reduce the amount of wet, sloppy waste going to other methods of disposal; reduce the leachate

Leachate

Leachate is any liquid that, in passing through matter, extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other component of the material through which it has passed....

 associated with stormwater

Stormwater

Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...

 management at landfills; reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from uncontrolled landfill operations; improve erosion and stormwater control through biofiltration (Schwab, 2000).

Barriers to Adoption

Communities and businesses that want to implement SSO programs face a few challenges. First, they need participation at the source of their organic waste generation. Second, they need a hauler willing to collect the organic waste. Third, they need a composting facility permitted to process the material. These challenges have been overcome by many successful SSO programs. Tactics for addressing barriers to adoption include creating outreach and education materials, forging partnerships between local businesses to share fixed collection costs, and creating incentives for organic diversion through regulated tip fees for solid waste and organics.

Processing

Organic materials collected in SSO programs typically get delivered to composting facilities where the waste is turned into nutrient-rich soil amendments known as compost. Organic feedstock can also be delivered to anaerobic digestion facilities that produce biogas

Biogas

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...

, a source of renewable energy.
Anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of MSW Municipal Solid Waste has been found to be in a number of LCA analysis studies to be more environmentally effective, than landfill, incineration or pyrolisis. The resulting biogas (methane) can then be used for cogeneration (electricity and heat preferably on or close to the site of production) and can be used in gas combustion engines or turbines. With further upgrading to synthetic natural gas it can be injected into the natural gas network or further refined to hydrogen for use in stationary cogeneration fuel cells.

See also

• Anaerobic Digestion
  Anaerobic digestion
  Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. It is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to release energy....
  
  
• Biodegradable waste
  Biodegradable waste
  Biodegradable waste is a type of waste, typically originating from plant or animal sources, which may be degraded by other living organisms. Waste that cannot be broken down by other living organisms are called non-biodegradable....
  
  
• Biogas
  Biogas
  Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
  
  
• Bioplastics
• Compost
  Compost
  Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. At its most essential, the process of composting requires simply piling up waste outdoors and waiting for the materials to break down from anywhere...
  
  
• Food waste
  Food waste
  Food waste or food loss is food that is discarded or lost uneaten. As of 2011, 1.3 billion tons of food, about one third of the global food production, are lost or wasted annually. Loss and wastage occurs on all steps in the food supply chain...
  
  
• Materials Recovery Facility
  Materials recovery facility
  A materials recovery facility or materials reclamation facility or materials recycling facility is a specialized plant that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers...
  
  
• Municipal Solid Waste
  Municipal solid waste
  Municipal solid waste , commonly known as trash or garbage , refuse or rubbish is a waste type consisting of everyday items we consume and discard. It predominantly includes food wastes, yard wastes, containers and product packaging, and other miscellaneous inorganic wastes from residential,...
  
  
• Recycling
  Recycling
  Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
  
  
• Waste management
  Waste management
  Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics...
  
  

External links

• Portland Composts! - Business organics recycling in Portland, OR
• Save Our Scraps - Public school organic recycling program in Clark County, WA
• Food Scrap Recycling Ads by StopWaste.org, CA
• Recycle Food. It's Easy to Do. by King County, WA
• City of Dubuque Food Scrap Recycling Program by Dubuque, IA
• Bin Talk by Ottawa, Canada
• How to Set up a Recycling Program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Find a Composter by BioCyle
• Food Service/Cafeteria Waste Reduction by CalRecycle, CA