Accelerated Composting of Shredded Solid Waste Using Microbial Inoculants

IJEP 42(8): 936-941 : Vol. 42 Issue. 8 (August 2022)

G. Resmi1* and V. Vinod2

1. N.S.S. College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Palakkad – 678 008, Kerala, India
2. N.S.S. College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Palakkad – 678 008, Kerala, India

Abstract

Studies were carried out to accelerate composting of organic waste using effective microbial solution and coir pith inoculum. Shredding of vegetable waste was carried out using a portable shredding machine designed and fabricated indigenously. The machine was able to reduce the size of 360 kg of waste in 1 hr. Hence tonnes of bulky waste generated from markets and residential colonies can be shredded into fine particles within few hours. The time needed for maturity of compost was checked by observing the variation in pH, moisture content and temperature. Application of effective microbial solution on shredded waste led to rapid composting compared to coir pith inoculum. By 5th day, pH increased to 7.9 in the sample mixed with effective micro-organisms (EM) solution and after few days of fluctuation, it got stabilized to neutral conditions. Temperature reached the thermophilic range within 7 days and later reduced to mesophilic range. The initial moisture content was 68.2% and it reached ideal conditions within 10 days. The results reveal that the method of rapid composting using shredding machine and microbial accelerators generates good quality manure in a cost-effective manner. Hence the method is sustainable and well suited for developing countries, like India.

Keywords

Accelerated composting, Effective microbial solution, Inoculum, Organic waste, Shredding machine

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