What are we thinking about decomposers in solarpunk urban environments?
What are we thinking about decomposers in solarpunk urban environments?
This question comes with my thoughts on a swamp city, but is open to thoughts about any biome.
We know cities are their own form of ecosystem, and all ecosystems must have decomposers. Right now, people are always fighting against them and hating them, which I understand--I also don't like seeing cockroaches, especially inside my house! And fungi can be good decomposers, but all I ever see is mold that can make me sick in my bathroom.
But I understand we need them. I like to think once there's better protection for actual native species, more than just the hardiest decomposers will also thrive. IDK, what do we think? Is it fair to hope for different decomposers that gross me out less, or am I being a bully? Do we need to have more purposeful conservation to introduce native decomposers and eliminate invasive ones, or do we think it will happen naturally as native decomposers follow other native species? In a theoretical solar punk paradise city, do I have to accept molds in my house?
No need to accept mold in your house.
A huge part of cities (I'd argue the biggest part) is cleanliness and hygiene. Cities need to consolidate and remove their waste to avoid illness and outbreaks. There is also an economy of scale, a municipal composting station can break down more things, and more quickly, than everyone doing it at home (not that they can't or shouldn't if they want to).
The best way to keep decomposers out of your house is to move the things they want to decompose OUT of your house. This is way to much for an individual to manage in tight quarters, so we fall back on a city's economy of scale.
Basically, a city needs a systematic approach to decomposition, it's impractical and unhygienic to be doing so on a small scale within a city (the rules are certain different for something more rural or homestead-y)
That makes sense for human waste, but I'm also wondering about the plants that I hope will be very present in solarpunk cities--in addition to pollinator, won't they need decomposers?
Sure, but dead plant parts should be outside your house when decomposing. Same with food waste. Economy of scale still exists with municipal composting.