Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Use of Vermicomposting to Reduce Solid Waste Accumulations, Alleviate Flooding and Further Sustainable Development in Slum Settlements in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
EPA Grant Number: SU835075Title: Use of Vermicomposting to Reduce Solid Waste Accumulations, Alleviate Flooding and Further Sustainable Development in Slum Settlements in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Investigators: Sletto, Bjorn , Lara, Rosario Rizzo , Rosenbarger, Beth , Rojas, Danielle , Genova, Jared , Clifton, Matt , Brigmon, Nathan , Díaz, Omar , Sertzen, Pamela , Die, Rachael , Davila, Tánia
Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2011 through August 14, 2012
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Municipal solid waste management in informal settlements (slums) is often inadequate, resulting in accumulations of household waste in waterways. This causes water contamination, public health problems, and flooding problems by blocking the flow of storm water. A typical case is Los Platanitos, Dominican Republic, where inadequate municipal solid waste management forces residents to deposit waste in open channels. As a result, homes are often flooded by extremely polluted water. The objective of the present project is to implement, evaluate, and disseminate the results of a community-based vermicomposting (composting using worms) enterprise in Los Platanitos, municipality of Santo Domingo Norte, Dominican Republic. Specifically, the objective is to lessen the amount of organic waste deposited in channels, reduce water contamination, improve public health, and provide a source of income for women, who will direct the household-based project. The project is thus highly innovative in its integration of locally appropriate technologies, gender-based development strategies, and principles of economic sustainability.
The project builds on in-depth knowledge of local social and environmental realities and strong relationships with residents, local government and NGOs developed during two previous class projects, and was implemented in close collaboration with the NGOs Fundación del Saneamiento Ambiental de la Zurza (FUNDSAZURZA) and Fundación Agricultura y Medioambiente (FAMA), the community organization Fundación los Platanitos (FUMPLA), and the City of Santo Domingo Norte (ASDN). Additional partners include Centro Bono and Ciudad Alternativa. The project has been conducted in 4 phases: Phase 1, Preparation (summer-fall 2011); Phase 2, Project Implementation (January 4-15, 2012); Phase 3, Data Analysis and Preparation of Reports and Educational Materials (January 16-March 7, 2012); Phase 4, Project Evaluation and Development of Expansion Strategies (March 8-15, 2012). For their final course requirements, students will complete the third book published by the UT-Austin Santo Domingo initiative, in this case a practical guide for vermicomposting in informal settlements. Continuing engagement by project partners has been secured to ensure the continuity of the project.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Outcome assessment conducted in March 2102 shows the project is quite popular in the community. Outcomes include: construction of three, communal vermicomposting sites in Phase 2 and a fourth site in Phase 4; development and successful operation of a women’s group to administer the project; successful maintenance of the vermicomposting bins; development, on women’s initiative, of value-added sustainable development projects using the compost produced; reduction of organic waste in the community waterways and open spaces; and capacity-building of the community-based organization FUMPLA to oversee the project.
Phase 1, Preparation (summer-fall 2011)
In summer and fall 2011, instructor prepared for the project by visiting Santo Domingo to reaffirm project partnerships and conduct initial project planning, and students prepared bin designs, reviewed the literature, and developed research methods. The outcome of the preparatory work was the development of a fieldwork plan that included surveys and interview questions to assess residents’ perceptions organic waste, composting and vermicomposting, strategies for focus groups, workshops, and training programs; and strategies for identifying sites, acquiring tools and building materials, and designing and building vermicomposting bins.
Phase 2, Project Implementation (January 4-15, 2012)
During the field trip in Santo Domingo in January, 3 students worked to identify sites, acquire new and reused materials, and conduct participatory design-build of vermicomposting bins. Two students worked with women to establish a women’s organization, to conduct training and capacity building, and to develop a maintenance program for the vermicomposting project. Two students worked with youth and children to conduct environmental education, develop youth leaders for the project, and to design and paint signs for the vermicomposting sites. Three students conducted workshops with FUMPLA to further develop appropriate strategies and capacity of the organization to properly oversee the vermicomposting project. The work of all students stressed the gender and youth component of the project and included exercises and discussions to better understand gender relations in the community and to ensure that the project was women-driven, yet also appropriate given existing gender relations.
The outcomes of the first field trip included (1) the establishment of a women’s organization named “Mujeres Unidas” (Women United) to manage the vermicomposting project. By the end of the 10 days of fieldwork, students and women together had established an administrative structure and developed a good understanding of the everyday maintenance needs for the vermicomposting bins. A second (2) outcome was a group of trained youth leaders to work with women to maintain the vermicomposting bins and to continue the education of children in Los Platanitos on organic waste management, and also the completion and siting of large, hand-painted signs at two of the vermicomposting sites. A third (3) outcome was the participatory acquisition of used and new materials and tools, and the design and building of three sets of vermicomposting bins at 3 different sites. The bins and sites were selected to allow for the evaluation of compost production and feasibility of 3 different models of bins.
Phase 3, Data Analysis and Preparation of Reports and Educational Materials (January 16-March 7, 2012)
During this phase of the project, students and instructor transcribed and entered survey and interview data, analyzed findings from the January field trip, wrote 4 of 6 book chapters in English and translated to Spanish, completed a 3 x 6 foot poster with photos illustrating Phases 2 and 3 of the project to give to residents, and developed surveys, question scripts and other methods for the outcome assessment in mid-March. The outcomes included the completion of all these materials before departure for Santo Domingo in March and also clarity in the methods and strategies to be used during Phase 4, below.
Phase 4, Project Evaluation and Development of Expansion Strategies (March 8-15, 2012)
Students and instructor returned to the community during their spring break holiday to complete an outcome assessment and to develop, together with project participants in Los Platanitos and Santo Domingo, objectives and strategies for the possible expansion of the project. The outcome assessment consisted in initial interviews, surveys, and participant observations to determine community response to the pilot project; assessment of construction costs in terms of volume of production to determine most feasible methods; interviews with women participants to determine the volume of waste composted in the pilot project; and follow-up meetings with project partners based elsewhere in Santo Domingo. We found that although the project was very popular in the community, it was necessary to further strengthen communication capacities of the women’s group and FUMPLA. Participants also indicated a strong desire to expand the project. During the latter days of the second field trip, students and instructor therefore completed a new site assessment, acquired materials, and constructed a new composting site; conducted follow-up training on communication with the women’s group and FUMPLA; and designed and built two new signs. They also facilitated meetings between FUMPLA, Mujeres Unidas (the women’s vermicomposting organization), and NGO project partners to strengthen communication, discuss how to strengthen relationships, and consider how to expand the project. It was found upon students’ return that the pilot project had been a resounding success beyond expectations expressed in the original P3 proposal. The outcomes of Phases 3-4 of the pilot project included:
- Between January and March, the women of Mujeres Unidas in Los Platanitos had furthered solidified their women-led community organization, including strengthening relationships with partner organizations initially established in January. They had also integrated more women participants to more than double the size of the group.
- The women of Mujeres Unidas had successfully maintained the vermicomposting bins, resulting in extensive growth in the worm population which can now be used to expand the project without additional monetary outlays.
- The women of Mujeres Unidas had completed necessary additions to the physical infrastructure, including a rainwater catchment system to use to ensure the health of the worm bins. This reduces the amount of work needed to keep the compost humid and further ensures the suitability of the project in slums with inadequate water access.
- The women of Mujeres Unidas had developed plans for expanding the project through the building of new bin sites elsewhere in the community, using the additional worms that had hatched during our absence. They had decided on a strategy of expanding into other areas that are similarly plagued with problems from uncollected organic garbage.
- The women of Mujeres Unidas had initiated a value-added project, consisting in the production of aromatic plants for sale to nearby greenhouses and at the organic market managed by partner FAMA. The flower production represents a very exciting opportunity to diversify the income-generating potentials from the vermicomposting project.
- The women of Mujeres Unidas had used the project to develop a space for capacity-building and education related to women’s health issues, first aid, hazards preparedness, and accounting and microenterprise management.
- Based on observations, interviews with project participants, and weight measurements, each of the participating households now deposit their organic waste in the composting bins instead of in the channel or open spaces. Each of approximately 10 participating households deposits approximately 40 lbs of organic waste per week, totaling 400 pounds of organic waste now being converted to compost and a source of income every week.
- Because of the great, initial success and innovative nature of the vermicomposting project, NGO project partners FAMA, FUNDSAZURZA and Ciudad Alternativa are now actively investigating possibilities for expanding the project in other slum settlements.
- The vermicomposting project had also prompted other residents in Los Platanitos, in particular members of the Los Platanitos community-led organization FUMPLA, to begin developing a plastics recycling program together with project partner FUNDSAZURZA.
Conclusions:
The initial assessment of outcomes of the pilot projects shows that vermicomposting in informal settlements shows extraordinary potentials for reducing organic waste accumulation, slowing the contamination of waterways, alleviating the risk of flooding, and providing income-earning potentials through sale of compost and the production and sale of value-added products such as flowers. The short time period (2 months) and limited scope of the pilot project (3 sites with 3 bins in each site) makes it impossible to measure any overall reduction in environmental contamination or flooding. However, interviews, observations, and weight measurements suggest that each participating households deposits 40 lbs of organic waste per week in vermicomposting bins instead of in the environment. With approximately 200 households located alongside the 1 ½ km long waterway, even with only half of all household participating, the expansion of this project could potentially convert 4000 pounds of organic waste into a source of income with very limited investment. Already, women from Mujeres Unidas have sold their first compost and are growing flowers on their own initiative using compost they have produced. The project has had other important outcomes that must be considered fundamental for any expansion, including developing a democratic and welcoming community space for gender-based environmental and health education, capacity-building, and community building and reduction of conflict.
Supplemental Keywords:
Water Treatment, Bioremediation, Urban Water Planning, Storm Water Management, Composting, Green Landscaping, Environmental Justice, Gender and DevelopmentRelevant Websites:
Hacia un Camino Limpio (PDF) Exit
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.