Windrow Composting of Food and Yard Wastes

• Main Authors: Thanatip Kaewcumfu, Siranee Sreesai, Tawatch Prechthai, Manote Lexdumrong, Worapot Chalermklin, ธนานิป แก้วคำพู, ศิราณี ศรีโส, ธวัช เพชรไทย, มาโนชญ์ เหล็กดำรง, วรพจน์ เฉลิมกลิ่น
• Other Authors: Mahidol University. Faculty of Public Health. Department of Environmental Health Sciences
• Format: Original Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: food waste; yard waste; compost; nutrient; มูลฝอยเศษอาหาร; มูลฝอยจากสวน; การหมัก; ธาตุอาหาร; การหมักแบบกองแถว
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/63732
• Institution: Mahidol University

Organic waste from public consumption is a problem for waste management. The university campus in Tambol Salaya, Nakorn Prathom Province, a community with a large population, needed to find effective strategies for sustainable waste management. This study aimed to find a proper solution for two major organic wastes, food and yard wastes. Windrow composting was investigated at different conditions including mixing ratios and aerations in the fi eld experiment for 8 weeks. The organic wastes and composted material samples were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics including moisture content, temperature, pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium. Two way ANOVA analysis and LSD post-hoc test were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that food waste had high nitrogen and moisture content while yard waste had high organic carbon. To compost the organic materials without aeration supply conditions revealed signifi cant difference (p < 0.05) in higher composting temperature while the higher mixing ratio could signifi cantly increase (p<0.05) organic matter. The composting was fi nished at week 8 and composted materials had a lower temperature and neutral pH. The nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus were increased whereas potassium was slightly decreased, thus they could match with the organic fertilizer standard. The food yard waste ratio of 1:1, without aeration was a suitable organic composting condition. The fi ndings can also be used as an application criterion for other communities which recycle nutrients back to the environment.