ISHS Acta Horticulturae 302: International Symposium on Compost Recycling of Wastes
PREFACE |
| Abstract:
On the eve of the year 2000 the public and bodies politic have become quite aware of issues concerning the hazards from the present state of deterioration of the earth's environmental systems The extensive, wasteful and careless use of our resources that was prompted during the industrial era, is threatening now the very existence of the future generations. It is the type of development that is responsible for and accelerates processes such as soil erosion, pollution (often deadly) of the air and of the water resources, ozone depletion and deforestation to mention just a few. It is becoming more and more clear every day, that these processes are not merely ominous. Some of them may already be beyond correction Composting and recycling of wastes is widely recognised now as a strategic approach of management of resources for the restoration and preservation of our environment and in any case represents a fundamental step towards the right direction. Compared to composting's present role in waste management, its potential is undoubtedly far greater. This includes a diversity of areas, such as municipal solid wastes, wastewater sludge, various industrial wastes, soil treatment and management Yet, as it has been pointed out, the "cross-roads" of such diverse applications is system dynamics, and the various options for microbial level process management afforded by these dynamics. This symposium was conceived to emphasise this common element and to highlight composting process dynamics, in the sense of scientific investigation of the cause and effect relationships that govern the system's behaviour.
Also, to bring together experts from the academy and P & D institutions as well as development agents. |
