Optimization of a Vegetable Waste Composting Process with a Significant Thermophilic Phase

Proper management of waste is a major problem in most of the metropolitan areas. Composting is one of the oldest and simplest methods of organic waste stabilization. It is a self-heating biological conversion, which generates suitable end products such as fertilizers, substrates for mushroom cultivation and bio-gas (methane). The thermophilic phase is a very dynamic phase where high microbial activity leads to accelerated degradation of organic matter. This phase also sanitizes the compost. The aim of the current study is to optimize a composting system utilizing market waste. Three methods of composting were studied and composting by heaping or piling was found to be the most efficient method as a significant thermophilic phase (highest temp. 65.90C) was obtained provided the moisture content was kept around 60%.