The ecosystem services provided by soil and the importance of its protection. The essential role of organic waste

Soil is a key environmental matrix that is often forgotten (there is still no European directive specifically dedicated to it), even though it performs fundamental ecosystem services. In some European countries soil is particularly desertified (e.g. Italy and Spain). In order to solve the problem of desertification and deal with the other threats attacking the soil, it is urgent to return organic substance to the soil. One immediate and logical solution seems to be the utilisation of organic substance from organic waste to the soil. To achieve this goal particularly efficient management of organic waste is required. Compostable materials are innovative materials having the same end-of-life as organic waste. These materials can be crucial in order to maximise the collection of organic waste and the production of compost, a precious ally for soil regeneration.