This initiative is a joint effort by the Rivera Municipal Government and the Uruguayan-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Uruguay), in collaboration with Cempre Uruguay (Business Commitment to Recycling), Equipos Consultores, and Vermitierra.
The initial phase of the project aimed to install 500 home compost bins and provide technical support to monitor the process and how people were adopting composting techniques.
Compost “is a product resulting from the decomposition of organic raw materials under controlled conditions, reaching temperatures that allow for sanitization. This product consists of stabilized organic matter and beneficial microorganisms, and can be applied to the soil to improve its physical, chemical, and biological properties,” according to regulations issued by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries.
Representing CBI+I were Facundo Rocha, a biotechnology engineering student who conducted the experiments, Mag. Inés Tiscornia, and Dr. Mariana Umpierrez, who provided academic oversight of the project.
“At the Center, we conduct experiments on samples from the compost bins so that we can use laboratory analysis to quantify key aspects of the composting process, determine the stage of maturity, assess the effect on plant growth, and carry out other studies,” explains Tiscornia.
“We also created an educational worksheet for conducting experiments in high schools and elementary schools to support education,” he continued.
As part of the work schedule, metrics were established to assess the quality (stability and maturity) of the compost produced, for which four studies were conducted:
- Organoleptic analysis for moisture control
- Physical-chemical analysis and gas production
- Germination of Chinese cabbage
- Growth trial on alfalfa plants
According to the data analyzed, 52% of the samples tested met the maturity criteria for compost, making it suitable for use in vegetable gardens.
These analyses serve as a starting point for generating local, quantifiable data on the composting process.
The findings of this pilot project are summarized in the following guide.