Waste Management

Wetlands

In keeping with our holistic approach to living, nearly all waste generated from Abundance EcoVillage is managed onsite.  Effluent waste is managed through vertical flow wetlands, a sustainable and highly effective way of treating water.

Vertical flow wetlands mimic natural wetlands in their ability to act as biofilters, removing sediments and other pollutants from the water.  A vertical wetland is, in essence, an artificial marsh created for wastewater.  An ideal vertical wetland serves both as a purification system for waste, and as habitat for wildlife.  Through intricate and complex interactions, plant roots and root bed mineral surfaces provide necessary aeration to treat effluent waste, resulting in run-off that is so clean it can be reused for irrigation or discharged into trenches.

At Abundance EcoVillage we use Orenco’s AdvanTex Treatment Systems, which provides an environmentally sustainable treatment of wastewater flows.  Unlike other onsite wastewater treatment technologies, AdvanTex provides consistent, reliable treatment for daily use.   The system can process and discharge small amounts of treated wastewater throughout the day, so a waste surge will not overwhelm the system. The system works by holding waste in a septic tank.  In the tank, organic materials breakdown, forming sludge and scum, which decompose slowly.   The liquid material is pumped from the septic tank into a sand filter, where microorganisms break down the pollutants,  thus cleaning the water.

When final installation of this system is complete, the clean effluent will become part of an intricate irrigation system, providing additional nutrients to the non-edible and indigenous permaculture of Abundance EcoVillage.

Household Waste, Recycling & Composting

Full waste removal and recycling services are available at the Abundance EcoVillage, provided by a local waste management company.  Our recycling services include plastic, metal, paper and more.  Additionally, many EcoVillage residents compost their kitchen waste, creating rich nutrients for our abundant gardens.