An Overview of Composting Based on Variable Feedstock Material

Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia

^a Corresponding author : aeslina@uthm.edu.my

Abstract

Composting is a biological treatment method that provides a potential sustainable way to convert food waste into organic compost. In composting, the feedstock material is an important item to ensure the success of the composting process. This paper reviewed the process of composting based on implementation different types of feedstock, namely: 1) animal waste such as cow dung, poultry litter, swine manure and chicken manure; and 2) agricultural waste such as sawdust, rice straw, bran, bagasse, banana waste and pine chip. The result for poultry litter, cow manure, swine manure, sawdust and rice straw has C/N ratio lower than 20 at final composting process which is considered as satisfactory level for compost maturity. As a conclusion, the selection of the feedstock material is based on the characteristics of the material itself and the selection of materials is important for the quality of compost.