Large scale composting and vermiculture

Closing the Loop, composters, worm farmers and waste consultants, South Africa

'Waste' is a resource, not a liability.

Closing the Loop consults in the field of waste management and supplies related technology and products.

We help our clients to address their regulatory, environmental and social responsibilities. We do do this by means of innovative systems and technologies, which enable us to minimize negative impacts associated with the 'waste' - and convert it into a resource.

Closing the Loop works in association with professionals from a range of fields, which gives us access to a wealth of expertise, a suite of technologies and a range of products to address our client's unique requirements.

Services offered by Closing the Loop

• Advice on how environmental legislation relates to waste.
• Waste audits (organic waste, liquid effluent, recyclables etc.).
• Analysis of existing systems and waste management practices.
• Advice on alternative systems / practices and cost implications.
• Development of waste handling plans / management systems.
• Design, specification and supply of appropriate systems and products.
• Coordination and management of contractors / suppliers.
• Implementation of systems, training of staff and monitoring.
• Reporting, follow-up audits, service and maintenance.
• Advice on sustainable agriculture - processes and products.
  
• Advice on organic waste and waste water treatment.

Closing the Loop

'Closing the Loop' is a term that is used to describe a shift from linear processes to closed-cycle processes. Most of our activities and built systems are based on a linear processes. By definition, linear processes lack connections to productive cycles, so they tend to create 'waste' and give rise to environmental issues. Closed-cycle processes take the outputs of a process and use these as the inputs of other processes, thereby avoiding the creation of wastes and creating inputs for the original cycles.

Closed-cycle processes is the way that nature tends to organize itself, and it is the core principle on which our business is founded. We seek to actively identify and create opportunities for value-adding processes. Closing the Loop is not just about cycling materials and energy, we also seek to balance Prosperity with the needs of People and the Planet (a triple bottom line approach).

While we promote a wide range of technologies, our main focus area is on the processing of organic waste through in-vessel composting and vermicomposting (earthworm composting). Using these technologies we are able to process a wide range of organic waste materials that are not suitable for conventional composting, and which would otherwise have to be sent to landfill for disposal.

We believe that cycling organic waste is closely linked to Food Security, and as a result we place emphasis on converting this 'waste' back into food - and not energy.