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“All life is an experiment,” said Emerson, and so we continue our work to turn garbage into gold. For years we did what humans have done since the beginning of time—throw it out back. But then a boa constrictor took up residence under the compost pile, and we started Cooperativa Orgánica, collecting compost from hotels and houses, and had to think up a new system. We decided on 55-gallon drums and plastic containers, with trays underneath to collect the leachate, so they would be contained and movable. The drawback to this system is that the compost cannot be worked and hence takes time to decompose. The plastic containers have begun to degrade, and the oil drums do not let in enough oxygen. However, they may be useful for special batches, like fish remains. that need to be enclosed and treated at high temperatures.
So, we visited the recycling center at Xel-Há and adapted several beds after their design. Pancho helped us to build several 3m x 3m beds with a concrete floor, slightly sloped to collect the leachate, with screen sides to promote aeration. Layers of compost, and leaves and grass, will be laid. The waste from our composting toilets will also be treated in separate beds with wood shavings.
This project is part of our goal toward integrated waste management, where waste is transformed into a product of value. Here we will utilize the nutrients in kitchen compost to grow herbs and lettuce, and close the loop once again. These current efforts are helping us develop a waste management system for Akumal, with the idea that everyone in the community will eventually participate.
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