Effect of Passive Aeration on Conventional Composting of UTP Organic Wastes for Value-added Products

Composting is a method of converting organic waste into value-added products. The outcomes are usually nutritious fertilizers and this method has been practiced for decades especially by farmers. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) is generating wastes at a high volume daily. There is a significant potential of carrying composting for UTP’s waste to reduce operation cost in handling of waste and gardening works. The study aims to take a scientific approach to investigate the parameters that will affect the composting activity. While it is shown that passive aeration might be able to help speed up the rate of composting, further study needs to be done to establish the fact. Literature review shows that composting is expected to complete in the period of about 60 days. Temperature and pH profile indicates composting in this study took 65 days to complete, 5 days longer than expectation. Average mass yield percentage was recorded at 20% for the recipe of applying carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25. Organic carbon content analysis shows that the compost possesses carbon weigh percent in the range of 1.4% to 2.5%. Meanwhile test results have shown that nitrogen content in the final product is in the range of 1.1% to 2.8% weight percent. Both the carbon and nitrogen properties are comparable to that of the commercial compost studied in this research. The comparison suggests that the quality of the compost generated using UTP organic wastes is as good as commercially available compost. Feasibility studies determined that there is a potential of up to RM3,300 of saving per month if UTP recycles organic wastes collected in campus into compost. The reduction of cost in terms of transportation and purchase of fertilizers outweighs the additional labor cost to handle the composting project. There is also generation of excess compost monthly that could be considered for commercialization to generate additional revenue. This study provides the basis for further study into framing a sustainable business model for the composting project in UTP.