A more extensive understanding of the generation, recovery and treatment of solid waste will be developed, particularly of the roles and interactions of the many stakeholders, including the Corporation, waste pickers, private sector contractors and farmers who have bought urban waste. It is intended that phase 1 of the research project will conclude at the end of September 1998, to enable a review of the research with a view to planning further stages with more detailed information and objectives. A number of preliminary findings were derived from the inception visit and associated literature reviews. There are a number of constraints to the use of urban waste by farmers, including transportation and labour costs and deteriorating quality of waste. Small and marginal farmers have not had access to urban waste, largely due to significant transportation costs.
Local compost is used in many areas and is made from household waste, dung and farm waste.
Composts are often in short supply, and purchasing is difficult. Some adaptations to changes in the availability of composts, including urban waste, have been made by farmers, such as tilling the soil earlier than previously.