Compost municipal: el TEC y la Municipalidad de Turrialba en busca de oportunidades para la agricultura y la economía circular

Abstract

Municipal Solid Waste generation in Costa Rica has led to the depletion of several landfills, such as the one in Turrialba. In response, the local Municipality and TEC started searching for solutions to the nearly 20 tons of organic waste daily generated Turrialba. One alternative to treat the organic waste fraction is composting, which produces a soil amendment known as compost. In consequence, a research project from TEC conducted a study to evaluate the effect of this compost on the growth and development of the jalapeño pepper (Capsicum sp.) crop, comparing it with a coffee pulp compost (commercially available) and a conventional fertiliser (chemical). The results indicated that chemical fertilisation produced the highest values for vegetative growth and fruit production, due to the greater and immediate availability of nutrients. Although the compost treatments did not show immediate increases in production, they did favour the development of plant roots and improve the structure and health of the growing medium. Based on the above, compost can be considered a viable alternative to strengthen fertility in the long term, as a complement to conventional fertilization. As a complement, an extension project from TEC considered the results of prior research and developed a strategic proposal through a participatory process, to promote the adoption of compost in agricultural crops to support sustainable local agriculture and waste management within circularity approaches.