COMPOSTING

TECHNIQUES FOR SOLID WASTE

DISPOSAL
DEFINATION OF COMPOSTING
• If the organic material excluding plastic, rubber and leather are separated from
the municipal solid waste are subjected to bacterial decomposition the end
product remaining after dissimilatory and assimilatory bacterial activity is
called compost or humus .The entire process involving both separation and
the bacterial conversion of organic solid waste is known as composting.
PROPERTIES OF COMPOST

• The typical properties of compost are;

• A brown to very dark brown colour
• A low carbon-nitrogen (C/N) ratio
• A continually changing nature due to activities of mo’s
• A high capacity for cation exchange and water absorption
• When added to soil, compost has been found to lighten heavy
soils, to improve the texture of light sandy soils and to increase
the water retention capacity of most soils.
OBJECTIVE OF COMPOSTING

To transform the biodegradable organic materials into a biological stable materials
and to reduce the original volume of waste.
To destroy pathogens, insect eggs and other unwanted organism and weed seeds
that may be present in waste.
 To retain the maximum nutrients content ( nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium)
 To produce a product that can be used to support plant growth and as soil
amendment.
 aerobic composting Anaerobic composting
When organic material decomposes with oxygen the The anaerobic compositing is use to describe break
3Turning is practice
process is called aerobic composting down of O.M by reduction in absence of oxygen
Turning is not practice
High temperature destroy pathogenic bacteria and low temperature due to less energy liberated
protozoa
O.M+O2+nutrient O.M+H2O+nutrient
Newcell+component+CO2+H2O+NH3+SO3-+heat Newcell+component+CO2+NH3+CH4+H2S+heat

It is accomplished in pits,bin,stack adequated oxygen It is accomplished in large well packed stack

is provided
Its not expensive Its expensive
It requires less time for stabilization It requires more time stabilization
It can be control process its indifferent to control

The gas generated are non odour so its environment The gas generatedin anaerobic process posses smell
friendly and odour problem
FACTOR AFFECTING COMPOSTING

• Organism
• Moisture content
• Temperature
• Carbon /nitrogen
• Aeration
• Blending and sieving
• Mixing and turning
• pH control
• Particle size
AEROBIC COMPOSTING MICROBIOLOGY

• Composting in the most commonly used biological process for the conversion
of OFMSW to a stable humus-like material known as compost.
 AEROBIC COMPOSTING MICROBIOLOGY

During composting process a succession of facultative and obligate aerobic micro organisms is active.
 In the beginning phases of composting process, mesophilic bacteria are most prevalent. After the rise in
temperature of compost site, a thermophilic bacterium becomes predominate leading to thermophilic fungi
which appear after 5 – 10 days.
 In final stages or curing period as it is sometimes known, actinomycetes appear. Because significant
concentrations of these microorganisms may not be present in some types of biodegradable waste, it may
be necessary to add them to the composting material as additive.
 Critical parameters in the control of aerobic composting processes include moisture content, c/n ratio and
temperature.
 For most biodegradable organic wastes, once the moisture content is brought to a similar level (50 to
60%) and the mass is aerated, microbial metabolism speeds up.
 The aerobic microorganisms which utilize oxygen, feed upon the organic matter and develop cell tissue
from nitrogen, phosphorous, some of the carbon and other required nutrients.
 Much of the carbon serves as a source of energy for the organism and is burns up and respired as carbon
dioxide
AEROBIC COMPOSTING

• Composting operation involves 3 basic steps

• Preparation of solid waste
• Decomposition of solid waste
• Product preparation and marketing
• Receiving , sorting separation , size reduction and nutrient addition an part of the preparation step
• Once the solid waste is converted into humus
• The third step is product preparation and marketing
• This step may include fine grinding ,blending with various additives, granulation, bagging, storing,shipping
and in some cases direct marketing.
• The amount of O2 required for complete aerobic stabilization of municipal solidwaste can be estimated by
using the equation
• CaHbOcNd+((4a+b-2c-3d)/4 )O2 aCO2+((b-3d)/2)H2O +dNHc
• If the ammonia NH3 is to be oxidized to nitrate the amount of oxygen required to accomplish this can be
computed with the following equation
• NH3+2O2 H2O +HNO3
INDORE METHOD • Indore method is purely aerobic MSW,
night soil and animal dung are placed in
small brick lined pits 3m*3m*1m depth
in alternate layer of 0.1m height . So as
to make total height.
• The mixture is regularly turned for 2-
3month in order to keep in aerobic
condition .these compost mass is lift for
another about 1-1.5month without any
turning after which the compost become
ready for use .the entire process thus take
about 4 month .
• This method is primarily aerobic in
nature.
ANAEROBIC COMPOSTING

• Anaerobic digestion of organic material is basically a

• 3-stage process: •large organic polymers are first hydrolyzed
• then fermented into short-chain volatile fatty acids (VFAs).
• These acids are then converted into CH4 and CO2.
DISADVANTAGE OF ANAEROBIC
COMPOSTING

• Considerable water must be added to the solid waste bring it to 4-8%

• Diluted sludge should be dewatered before final disposal
• Odour problem
• Large area
• More time for stabilization
• It is a complex process
BANGALORE METHOD OF COMPOSTING

• This method is purely anaerobic in nature and does not involved any turning and
handling of the mass and hence not clean than indoor method .
• therefore it is widely adopted by municipal authority through out of the country in this
method the refuse and night soil are piled up in layer in an under ground earth trench
(about10m*1.5m*1.5m)this mass is covered at its top by layer of earth of about 15cm
depth and its finally left over for decomposition.
• with in 2-3 days burial intensive biological action starts taking place and organic
matter begins to be destroyed. considerable heating get involved in this process which
sites the temperature of the decompositing mass about 75oC the heat prevents the
breading of flies while destroying the laying. After about 4-5 month the refuse get fully
stabilized and change into brown color a odurless , powdery mass the humus is
removed from the trench.
• Sieved on 12.5mm sieved to removed stone , broken glass etc and soldout in the
market as manure
• .initial C/N ratio and moisture content are 2 important controlling factor for the success
final produce compost which is free fro pathogen,and contain 1.1% nitrogen,1.1of
phosphateand 1.5%of potassium thus providing valuable nutrient for soil.
BANGALORE METHOD
VERMI COMPOSTING
Vermi-composting uses natural composting
process of decomposition of biodegradable
organic matter by the soil bacteria as in ordinary
composting technique, but takes the assistance of
cultured earth worms that are produced
commercially.

 These earth worms do help in quicker

decomposition of the organic matter.

 This method helps in adopting the

composting technique in individual
bungalows and institution, to dispose of
domestic waste and more particularly for
disposing of the yard and garden wastes.
The various steps:
Dig a small pit about 0.5m square and lm in deep.
 Line the pit with dried leaves and grass.
 Organize the disposal of organic domestic waste such as vegetable waste into the pit as and when generated.
 Introduce a culture of worms that is produced commercially.
 Cover the pit contents daily, by sprinkling of dried leaves and soil every day.
Water the pit once or twice a week to keep it moist.
Turn the contents of the pit every 15days.
 In about 45 days, the waste will be decomposed by the action of the microorganisms.
 The produced humus in the pit is fertile and rich in soil nutrients. It can, hence, be used in the garden
IMPORTANT DESIGN CONSIDERATION FOR AEROBIC COMPOSTING

1)Particle size – For optimum results the size should be between 25 to 75mm.
2) Carbon/ nitrogen ratio – Initial carbon and nitrogen ratios between 25 and 50 are optimum for aerobic composting.
3) Blending and seeding - Composting time can be reduced by seeding with partially decomposed solid waste to a extent of
about 1 to 5 percent the weight. Sewage sludge can also be added to prepared solid waste.
4) Moisture content – moisture content should be in range between 50 and 60% during the composting process. The optimum
moisture content should be about 55%.
5) Mixing and turning - To prevent during, air channelling, material in the process of being compacted should be turns or
mixed on regular schedule or as required.
6) Temperature – For best results, temperature should be maintained between 50 - 55°c for first few days and between 55 - 60°c
for the remaining of the active composting. If temperature goes beyond 66°c, biological activity is reduced significantly.
7) Air requirement – The theoretical quantity of oxygen required can be estimated and air at least 50% of the initial oxygen
concentration of remaining should reach all parts of the composting material for optimum results.
8) pH Control – To achieve an optimum aerobic decomposition, pH should remain at 7 to 7.5 range. To minimize the loss of
nitrogen in the form of ammonia gas, pH should not rise above 8.5
9) Land Requirement – The land requirement for a plant with a capacity of 50 tons/day will be 1.5 to 2 acres. The land area
required for a larger plant will be less on ton/day basis
 IMPORTANT DESIGN CONSIDERATION FOR
ANAEROBIC COMPOSTING

• size of material; waste to be digested should be shredded to a size that will not interfere with the efficient functioning of pumping and mixing operation.
• mixing equipment : to achieve optimum results and to avoid scum buildup mechanical mixing is recommended.
• Percentage of solid: Although amounts of waste varies from 50-90+ percent have been used 60% appear to be reasonable comprise.
• Hydraulic and mean cell residence time ; washout time in the range of 3-4d use 7-10d for design or base design on result of pilot plant studies.
• Loading rate: 0.6 to 1.6kg/m3.d not well define at pesent time .significantly higer rate have been reported
• Temperature; between 328&333K
• destruction of volatile solid waste:varies from about 60-80% 70% can be used for estimating purposes.
• Total solidsdestroyed; varies from 40-60% depending on amount of interest material present originally

• Gas production; 0.5-0.75m3/kg of volatile solids destroyed.

 MECHANICAL PROCESS OF COMPOSTING

• The Composting process involves four processes. Namely

• Receipt of refuse
• Segregation
• Grinding and pulverization
• Digestion