An Evaluation on Compost Quality Produced in UTP Campus

UTP is producing compost or organic fertilizer from the food waste that generated by cafeterias
in UTP. A few tests have to be carried out to analyze the content of the compost and to determine
the quality of the compost, whether it is suitable and safe to be used as fertilizer. Compost
quality standard documents from Canada and United States are the main references in
determining the quality of compost produced in UTP. There are 6 criteria that being considered
in determining the quality of compost produced in UTP which are maturity of the compost,
heavy metal content, foreign matter content, pathogens content, constituents of the compost
which indicates the percent ofCHNS, NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) content of the
compost and moisture content. Maturity of compost is determined based on the germination of
radish seeds and bean sprout seeds in the compost and C/N ratio of the compost. Germination of
those two types of seeds is carried out in three different conditions which are in 100 % soil, 1 00
% compost and in 50 % soil and 50 % compost. The content of seven types of heavy metal which
are lead, cadmium, copper, chromium, zinc, nickel and boron were tested on the compost. Any
matters that are greater than 2 mm in dimension that results from human intervention and having
organic or inorganic constituents such as metal, glass and synthetic polymers (plastic, rubber) are
considered as foreign matters. Quanti-Tray I 2000 are the device that being used to determine the
amount of bacteria in 100 ml of compost sample using IDEXX-d substrate reagent. NPK content
is determined by carrying out powder pillow test. Moisture content of the compost is determined
using the moisture analyzer. For maturity aspect, germination of both types of seeds only
occurred in 100% soil. C/N ratio of the compost is 17.67. The content of heavy metal in the
compost are within the allowable limit. For foreign matter analysis, compost produced in UTP
contains no man-made foreign matter such as glass, plastic, metal and stones. For pathogens
analysis, the compost does not contain E.coli. The amount ofNPK in compost produced in UTP
is low compared to the standard and moisture content of the compost is 54.65 %.