UKZN graduate converts human waste into safe compost
A local researcher is turning human waste into safe compost, and
believes it could help fix South Africa’s landfill crisis, if government steps
in.
Sinikiwe Khumalo recently completed her master’s degree in Crop Science at University of KwaZulu-Natal.
She developed a love for agriculture at an early age, having grown up in a community that relied on subsistence farming.
"We all know that in South Africa we have faced problem with waste management," she said.
"Now we've been looking at working directly with the landfill and directly with the wastewater treatment fund, especially in Pietermaritzburg, so that we can demonstrate the whole of South Africa.
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"We can recover nutrients from what is known as waste and then that those nutrients can also be used by farmers in the form of compost. So, I think it's something that the whole of South Africa should look at."
Khumalo's research focused on finding the most effective way to co-compost human waste with garden waste.
She diverted over 15 tonnes of waste from Msunduzi’s landfill and wastewater treatment plant, and said her compost is made from dewatered sewage sludge and green waste
She claimed the mix significantly improved quality and boosted cucumber growth, even outperforming commercial options.
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Khumalo is now planning a PhD to build on the research on how composting could help reduce environmental harm.
"I want to look at human waste again but now look at how maybe in these two can reduce emissions because we currently have the problem with over filling.
"So, I want to see if we compost, can we reduce emissions?"
On Tuesday, the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries will be briefed by the country's metros on their waste management and the state of landfill sites.
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