Vertical In-Vessel Composter for Stabilization of Market Vegetable Waste

Abstract

Composting can be one of the solutions to tackle the issue of handling solid waste. In the present research work, a bench-scale vertical in-vessel aerobic composter was designed to stabilize the Devaraja market vegetable waste, Mysore using horse dung and plantain leaves as seeding material and bulking agent respectively. On average, Devaraja market generate 4.8-5.6 ton per day. Mix proportion of organic waste, bulking and seeding materials fed into composter was in the ratio of 5: 1: 0.5. Initial and variation in physico-chemical characteristics of waste were monitored during the composting period. The initial concentration of total nitrogen, phosphorous, total organic carbon and C/N ratio which was found to be 1.67%, 0.78%, 1.93%, 43.5% and 26 showed a variation of 2.4%, 1.1%, 2% 29% and 15 respectively at the end of 21 days of composting.