MAKING COMPOST FROM BIODEGRADABLE WASTE

M A N I S H A S I N G H A L B 5 0M A N A N J A I N B 5 1

B H AVA N A K U R R A B 5 2 U M E R YO U S U F L O N E B 4 9 S A H A B A Z B 4 8

LOV E LY P R O F E S S I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y

INTRODUCTIONCOMPOSTING, THE RECYCLING OF ORGANIC WASTE SUCH AS VEGETATION AND FOOD WASTE REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF WASTE GOING TO LANDFILL AND IS THEREFORE A RAPIDLY GROWING SECTOR. THIS IS A CORNERSTONE OF ORGANIC GARDENING AND HAS MANY BENEFITS TO THE SCHOOL, COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. MAKING COMPOST IS NOT ONLY ABOUT PROVIDING SOIL AND PLANTS WITH A SOURCE OF FOOD, IT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF WORKING ORGANICALLY AND REDUCING WASTE. COMPOSTING PROVIDES A USEFUL WAY FOR TEACHERS, PUPILS AND CATERING STAFF TO EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TOGETHER.

PROCEDUREThe compost mixtures comprises of household waste such as tomatoes, pumpkin leaves, oranges, peppers, onions, rice husk, woodchips and sawdust. For composting to occur in an optimum manner five key factors need to be controlled, temperature, moisture content, oxygen content, aterial particle size and nature of the feedstock with particular importance to carbon over nitrogen ratio. Generally materials that are green and moist tend to be high in Nitrogen, while those that are brown and dry are high in Carbon.

RESULTThe objective of this research was to recycle household biodegradable waste using composting as a technique. Mixtures of organic materials which are components of biodegradable wastes were recycled by decomposing them under a controlled environmental condition.

CONT….The initial moisture content for each of the compost materials was computed They were classified as wet and dry materials, the average moisture content for both wet and dry materials was computed. The compost mixture was scaled down to half its quantity for easy turning. With an optimal environmental condition of moisture content (50%), adequate proportion of both the dry and

wet material to meet the required C/N ratio, and an appropriate volume of air in the pore spaces of the compost pile, microbial decomposition was initiated. Heat was generated as a by-product of microbial breakdown of organic material. The heat generated was a function of the size of the pile, its moisture content, and aeration.

CONT……Decomposition occurred rapidly during the thermophilic stage of composting, these accompanied by a rise in the temperature of the pile from day one to day two where temperature remained high for a few days during this stage, thermo sensitive fly larvae and weed seeds were destroyed. Subsequently the compost begins to cool. At this point water was added to increase the moisture content of the pile. Compost heat was produced as a by-product of the microbial breakdown of organic material. As the compost begins to cool, turning the pile will result to increase of temperature to peak, because of the replenished oxygen supply and the exposure of organic matter not yet thoroughly decomposed. After the thermorphilic phase the compost temperature drops and does not restored by turning or mixing, at this point which makes remaining organic matter more stable and suitable for plant use.

CONCLUSIONMixtures of organic materials which are components of biodegradable waste were recycled by decomposing them under a controlled environmental condition. However, thermal profile and losses of organic matter were lower compared to other composting processes. At the end of the decomposition process, a stabilized organic matter which can be used as fertilizer supplement for horticulturists, landscapers, orchardists, farmers etc was obtained. This stabilized organic matter can also be used to control soil erosion. As suggested by the high variability of most important parameters of local composts suggests an urgent need for developing local compost quality standards in order to assure a good quality for land application, environmental and public health.

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composting methods. Rome: FAO.• Pace, M.G., B.E. Miller, K.L. Farrel-Poe (1995). The composting

process (AG-WM01). Available online at

www.xtension,usu.edu/files/agpubs/agwmo1• Baldwin, K.R. and Greenfield, J.T. (2000). Composting

on the organic farm, pp. 1 – 25, Available online at www.cefs.ncsuedu