ANAEROBIC COMPOSTING OF ORGANIC FRACTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

Abstract

The amount of solid waste has been increasing by rapid population growth, improved technology, and economic development and changing consumption habits. This increase leads to find different municipal solid waste (MSW) management alternatives. Anaerobic composting offers a cost-effective treatment strategy to MSW management alternatives. Therefore the aim of this study was selected to investigate anaerobic composting process for food waste from catering company since large amount of organic wastes are generated from this type of sources. Anaerobic bioreactor was filled with mixed organic solid waste and monitored throughout 24 weeks. Leachate was re-circulated instead of mechanic mixing. Some parameters of leachate such as pH, COD, BOD, TKN, NH3-N, alkalinity, VFAs were analysed to gain information about biodegradability and stabilization of the anaerobic compost process. Compost which is the final product of our process also analysed at the end of the study and it was seen that the compost is stable and can be used for agricultural purposes.