Development of biodegradable waste recycling system

Abstract

In India, to handle one of the key environmental issue of managing solid waste, large-scale composting plants were installed which did not gave satisfactory results because improper segregation of waste and operation below capacity. Therefore, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management Rules, 2016 lay focus on small units for onsite treatment of waste to minimize cost and environmental impacts. Accordingly, the aim and objectives of the study were (i) Evaluation of microbial decomposition of biodegradable waste and (ii) To design and fabricate a pilot scale biodegradable waste recycling system. Biodegradable solid waste was sourced from mess of an educational institution which was based on surveys conducted in cities of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. The survey helped in determining quantity of biodegradable waste generation covering mess facilities in educational institutes, and kitchens of commercial establishments as hotels and residences. The study involved survey in 2 institutes located in knowledge city, Mohali; 11 three star hotels of Chandigarh (India) out of 70 three star hotels located in the province; and 1 residential township of Mohali. These are key stakeholders who can subsequently use the developed system on commercial scale. The survey helped identify that food waste alone was a major issue and these establishments face considerable problem in management of food waste generated. BioN microbial consortium (developed at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology) was used in the current study. Saw dust was also utilized which acts as filler for composting as it helps control moisture as per recommendations regarding culture usage. Saw dust adds the browns and helps in providing the necessary input carbon when treating kitchen waste, the greens which majorly contain nitrogen. 10 No. composting trials were done at ambient temperature using chopped input material (cooked food waste and Cooked + Raw food waste (1:1)) for zeroing on the best possible combinations for composting.