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Ecological food sense : connections between food waste flows and food production in Enkanini Informal Settlement, Stellenbosch

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In situ Informal Settlement Upgrading (ISU) was explored in this thesis, focussing on its relevance to waste
service upgrading options immediately available and practically implementable for residents of Enkanini, a
poorly serviced township (slum) in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Household food waste (kitchen scraps) was
chosen as a key point of entry for exploring the context and viability of in situ improvement of solid waste
management services in the area. This was done by investigating ways biological and social aspects of soil
quality and food waste management can be incrementally improved in the settlement. Transdisciplinary
methodology, Participatory Action Learning and Social Learning perspectives, combined with ecological
thinking were used to explore different methods of managing food waste in Enkanini. A food waste collection
pilot project was initiated in Enkanini by the Stellenbosch Municipality in 2012. The project was modified and
continued in 2013, which served as the case study for this thesis. In 2013, food waste was collected by 56
households over five months. It was treated with Bokashi Effective Micro-organisms (Bokashi EM) containing
yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, actinomycetes and photosynthetic bacteria. The Bokashi EM partially fermented
the waste before it was used for composting or feeding to Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae.
Laboratory testing of food waste, compost, soils and larvae waste residue determined the safety, potential
and sustainability of food waste for recycling and contribution to local urban agriculture by closing the organic
waste loop, and for generating an income stream. A total of 5851kg food waste was collected, saving 6m3

landfill space. Households generated 5,2kg - 9,6kg food waste per week. Extrapolating this lower figure for
all of Enkanini (about 2400 households), about 50,2 tonnes of food waste could be generated per month. If
this were collected and recycled or composted, this would save 51,2m3
landfill space per month. The most
commonly cited benefit of food waste collections by participants was reduction of vermin in or around their
homes. Laboratory testing indicated that some samples had high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.
No traces of Salmonella were found in food waste, compost and soil samples, and most were within
acceptable limits for heavy metals. It was cautioned that vegetables grown on soils or compost with high E.
coli be washed or cooked before consumption. Following socially and ecologically sustainable management
of Enkanini’s food waste requires a combination of waste management methods. Options include localised
composting - burying EM treated food waste in soil; in situ container composting of waste and adding this to
soil; processing of EM treated food waste by Black Soldier Fly larvae (and their subsequent use as feed for
chickens or fish); and finally by anaerobic digestion for generation of biogas and effluent fertiliser in local
biodigestors. The thesis showed that biological elements (such as bacteria and soil nutrients) have impacts
on residents in communities and these need to be considered significant. The thesis suggests ecological
elements be considered as indicators or building blocks for ISU locally, nationally and internationally.

Keywords: in situ incremental upgrading, food waste management, Effective Micro-organisms, social
learning, urban agriculture, closed-loop systems, organic waste management, informal settlements. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In situ Opgraderingsprojek vir Informele Nedersetting (OIN) is in hierdie tesis ondersoek, met die fokus om
die relevansie van afval diens opgradering opsies prakties te implementeer vir die inwoners van Enkanini,
Stellenbosch, Suid Afrika, 'n gemeenskap met swak dienslewering. Huishoudelike kombuis voedselafval is
gekies om die konteks en lewensvatbaarheid van in situ verbetering van vaste afval bestuur dienste te
ondersoek. Dit is bereik deur maniere te ondersoek om die biologiese en sosiale aspekte van die kwaliteit
van grond en voedselafval bestuur in die nedersetting te verbeter. Transdissiplinêre metode, Deelnemende
Aksie Leer en Sosiale Leerprosesse, gekombineer met ekologiese denke, is gebruik is om verskillende
metodes van die bestuur van voedselafval in Enkanini te verken. 'N Enkanini voedselafval
versamelingsprojek is in 2012 deur die Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit begin. Dit is in 2013 aangepas en vir
hierdie studie gebruik. Gedurende vyf maande in 2013 is voedselafval deur 56 huishoudings ingesamel. Dit
is behandel met Bokashi effektiewe mikro-organismes (EM Bokashi) met gis, melksuur bakterieë,
aktinomisete en fotosintetiese bakterieë. Die Bokashi EM het die afval gedeeltelik gegis voordat die afval
gebruik was vir kompos of voeding aan Swart Soldaat Vlieg (Hermetia illucens) larwes. Voedselafval,
kompos, grond en larwe oorskot laboratourim toetse het die veiligheid bepaal, asook die potensiaal en
volhoubaarheid van die afval vir herwinning en die bydrae tot die plaaslike stedelike landbou deur middel van
die organiese afval siklus, en vir inkomste generering. 5851kg voedselafval is ingesamel en 6m³ se
opvullingsruimte bespaar. Die huishoudings het 5,2kg – 9,6kg voedselafval per week gegenereer. Die laer
syfer in aggeneem, kan sowat 50,2 ton voedsalafval per maand in Enkanini (ongeveer 2400 huishoudings)
gegenereer word. As dit ingesamel, herwin of gekomposteer was, sou 51,2 m³ opvullingsruimte per maand
bespaar word. Die belangrikste voordeel van die voedselafval versamelings was die vermindering van knaag
en aasdiere rondom wonings. Laboratoriumtoetse het hoë vlakke van Escherichia coli (E. coli) bakterieë in
sommige monsters gevind. Geen spore van Salmonella is in die voedselafval, kompos en grondmonsters
gevind nie en meeste was binne die aanvaarbare perke vir swaar metale. Die gemeenskap is gewaarsku om
groente wat in die grond of kompos gekweek is voor verbruik in chloorwater te was of kook. Die sosiale en
ekologies volhoubare bestuur van Enkanini se voedselafval vereis 'n kombinasie van afval bestuursmetodes.
Opsies sluit gelokaliseerde kompos - begrawe EM behandelde voedsel afval in die grond; in situ houer
kompos afval en die toevoeging van hierdie tot die grond; verwerking van EM behandelde voedselafval deur
Swart Soldaat Vlieg larwes (en hul daaropvolgende gebruik as voer vir hoenders of vis); en uiteindelik deur
mestvergisting vir die generasie van biogas en kunsmis in biovergisters. Die tesis toon dat biologiese
elemente (soos bakterieë en voedingstowwe in grond)'n impak het op die gemeenskap se inwoners en as n
belangrik faktor beskou moet word. Die tesis dui ekologiese elemente as n toekomstige aanwysers aan
indien OIN plaaslik, nasionaal of internasionaal oorweeg word.

Sleutelwoorde: in situ toenemende opgradering, kos afval bestuur, effektiewe mikro-organismes, sosiale
leerproses, stedelike landbou, geslotestelsel-sisteme, organiese afval, informele nedersettings.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86550
Date04 1900
CreatorsMollatt, Michelle Claire
ContributorsSwilling, Mark, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatxii, 174 p. : col. ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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