Organic waste recycling can be done through composting or vermicomposting. Composting is the biological decomposition of organic materials through aerobic or anaerobic processes. Aerobic composting uses oxygen and produces heat, while anaerobic is slower. Vermicomposting uses earthworms to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich castings through a multi-phase process requiring proper bedding, food sources, moisture, and aeration. The final product of vermicomposting is beneficial for agriculture and horticulture.
Organic waste recycling can be done through composting or vermicomposting. Composting is the biological decomposition of organic materials through aerobic or anaerobic processes. Aerobic composting uses oxygen and produces heat, while anaerobic is slower. Vermicomposting uses earthworms to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich castings through a multi-phase process requiring proper bedding, food sources, moisture, and aeration. The final product of vermicomposting is beneficial for agriculture and horticulture.
Organic waste recycling can be done through composting or vermicomposting. Composting is the biological decomposition of organic materials through aerobic or anaerobic processes. Aerobic composting uses oxygen and produces heat, while anaerobic is slower. Vermicomposting uses earthworms to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich castings through a multi-phase process requiring proper bedding, food sources, moisture, and aeration. The final product of vermicomposting is beneficial for agriculture and horticulture.
Organic waste recycling can be done through composting or vermicomposting. Composting is the biological decomposition of organic materials through aerobic or anaerobic processes. Aerobic composting uses oxygen and produces heat, while anaerobic is slower. Vermicomposting uses earthworms to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich castings through a multi-phase process requiring proper bedding, food sources, moisture, and aeration. The final product of vermicomposting is beneficial for agriculture and horticulture.
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ORGANIC WASTE RECYLING
Soibam Khogen Singh
Composting • Haug (1980) defined composting as the biological decomposition and stabilization of organic substrates under conditions which allow development of thermophilic temperatures as a result of biologically produced heat, with a final product sufficiently stable for storage and application to land without adverse environmental effects. • Products: carbon dioxide, water, minerals, and stabilized organic matter Organic materials suitable • Generally, composting is applied to solid and semi-solid organic wastes such as night-soil, sludge, animal manures, agricultural residues, and municipal refuse, whose solid contents are usually higher than 5 %. Aerobic vs Anaerobic • indicate what conditions are predominant in the process • Aerobic composting is the decomposition of organic wastes in the presence of oxygen (air); the end-products of biological metabolism are CO2, NH3, water and heat • Anaerobic composting is the decomposition of organic wastes in the absence of oxygen; the end-products are CH4, CO2, NH3 and trace amounts of other gases, and other low molecular-weight organic acids • NH3 is further oxidized to become nitrate (NO3-) by the nitrifying bacteria during the maturation • Release more heat energy resulting in a rapid decomposition rate, aerobic composting has been a preferred technology • Anaerobic composting is a slow process and can produce obnoxious odors originating from the intermediate metabolites such as mercaptans and sulfides. • Depending on the methods of operation, anaerobic composting can produce temperatures near to or at thermophilic levels. • Because of its simplicity, anaerobic composting has found some applications in many rural areas • Composting pits being practiced in rural areas are aerobic at first and become anaerobic during the later stages of composting period Composting types A. ‘Mechanical‘ and 'non-mechanical' process B. ‘On-site' and 'off-site' processes C. Batch operation and continuous or semi- continuous operation D. Mesophilic‘ composting (25-40°C) and 'thermophilic' composting (50-65°C) Objectives, benefits and limitations A. Waste stabilization B. Pathogen inactivation C. Nutrient and land reclamation (inorganic nutrients are mainly in the insoluble forms which are less likely to leach than the soluble forms of the un-composted wastes D. Sludge drying Issue: unreliability of the process in providing the expected nutrient concentrations and pathogen die-offs Biochemical reactions • Proteins peptides amino acids ammonium compounds bacterial protoplasm and atmospheric nitrogen or ammonia • Carbohydrates simple sugars organic acids CO2 and bacterial protoplasm. Phases during decomposition • Latent phase (microorganisms to acclimatize and colonize in the new environment) • Growth phase (rise of biologically produced temperature to mesophilic level) • Thermophilic phase (temperature rises to the highest level) • Maturation phase (temperature decreases to mesophilic and, consequently, ambient levels) • - secondary fermentation takes place which is slow and favors humification and Nitrification Nitrification Practical application in aquaculture • Utilization as feed for fish • The public health hazard resulting from this practice is considered to be much lower than the direct feeding of septic tank sludge or night-soil to fish ponds. Vermi-composting • Earthworms live in the soil and feed on decaying organic material • After digestion, the undigested material moves through the alimentary canal of the earthworm, a thin layer of oil is deposited on the castings • The chemical changes that organic wastes undergo include deodorizing and neutralizing. • This means that the pH of the castings is 7 (neutral) and the castings are odorless. • The worm castings also contain bacteria, so the process is continued in the soil, and microbiological activity is promoted. Definition and benefits • Vermi-composting is the process of turning organic debris into worm castings • The castings contain high amounts of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. • Castings contain: 5 times the available nitrogen, 7 times the available potash, and 1 ½ times more calcium than found in good topsoil. Materials for preparation • Crop residues
• Weed biomass
• Vegetable waste
• Leaf litter
• Hotel refuse
• Waste from agro-industries
• Biodegradable portion of urban and rural wastes
Phase of vermi-composting • Phase 1: separation of waste • Phase 2: Pre digestion of organic waste for twenty days • Phase 3: Preparation of earthworm bed. • Phase 4: Collection of earthworm after vermi- compost collection. • Phase 5: Storing the vermi-compost What Worms Need? • An hospitable living environment, usually called “bedding” • A food source • Adequate moisture (greater than 50% water content by weight) • Adequate aeration • Protection from temperature extremes Bedding • This habitat must have the following characteristics: • High absorbency • Good bulking potential • Low protein and/or nitrogen content (high Carbon: Nitrogen ratio) Requirements • Housing: Sheltered culturing of worms is recommended • Containers: Cement tanks were constructed. • Bedding and feeding materials: During the use cow-dung in order to breed sufficient numbers of earthworms. Production Methodology • Selection of suitable earthworm • The African earthworm (Eudrillus engenial), Red worms (Eisenia foetida) and composting worm (Peronyx excavatus) are promising worms • Selection of site for vermi-compost production • place with shade, high humidity and cool • Containers for vermi-compost production • A cement tub may be constructed to a height of 2½ feet and a breadth of 3 feet. • The bottom of the tub is made to slope like structure to drain the excess water from vermi-compost unit. • A small sump is necessary to collect the drain water. • Vermi-culture bed • Vermi-culture bed or worm bed (3 cm) can be prepared by placing after saw dust or husk or coir waste or sugarcane trash in the bottom of tub / container. • A layer of fine sand (3 cm) should be spread over the culture bed followed by a layer of garden soil (3 cm). • All layers must be moistened with water. • Worm Food • Manures are the most commonly used worm feedstock, with dairy and beef manures generally considered the best natural food for Eisenia • Putting the waste in the container • The predigested waste material should be mud with 30% cattle dung either by weight or volume. • The mixed waste is placed into the tub/ container up- to brim. • The moisture level should be maintained at 60%. Over this material, the selected earthworm is placed uniformly. • For one-meter length, one-meter breadth and 0.5- meter height, 1 kg of worm (1000 Nos.) is required. • Watering the vermi-bed • Daily watering is not required for vermi-bed. But 60% moisture should be maintained throughout the period. • Harvesting vermi-compost • the castings formed on the top layer are collected periodically. The collection may be carried out once in a week • Harvesting earthworm • Worm harvesting is usually carried out in order to sell the worms, rather than to start new worm beds Bio-fuel production • Biogas (also called 'marsh gas'), a by-product of anaerobic decomposition of organic matters is an alternative source of energy