International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture (Jan 2024)

Feasibility study of pilot scale vegetable waste composting project for Kundasang community’s waste management program

  • Noorafizah Murshid,
  • Abu Zahrim Yaser,
  • Junidah Lamaming,
  • Mariani Rajin,
  • Sariah Saalah,
  • Mariana Taliban

DOI
https://doi.org/10.57647/j.ijrowa.2024.1303.27
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 3
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Purpose: Vegetable waste (VW) composting was assessed using a passive aerated pilot-scale composter at Kundasang, Sabah. The passive aerated composting system proposed at Kundasang Community Composting Site (KCCS) was analyzed for its techno-economic impact. Method: The composting performance (temperature, organic matter loss, moisture content, pH value, electrical conductivity, and nutrient value) of 500 ± 2 kg of VW, 250 ± 2 kg of RH, and 19 ± 1 kg of CM feedstock mixture was analyzed. The benefit-to-cost ratio was used to assess the impact of the techno-economic analysis on the designed and piloted KCCS. Results: In the pilot scale composting condition, temperature reached its highest at 59 ± 7 °C (day 5) and for five consecutive days (day 2 until day 6) in the thermophilic phase. Results of the final compost (on a dry matter basis) showed that the moisture content is 62 ± 0.2% WM, the pH level is 7.6 ± 0.1, the electrical conductivity is 1.8 ± 0.4 mS/cm, and the N, P, and K values are 0.58 ± 0.10% DM, 0.04 ± 0.02% DM, and 0.17 ± 0.04% DM, respectively. The techno-economic analysis shows that with the capital cost normalized on a 20-year basis, the KCCS composter system can generate approximately MYR 25, 000 (USD 5, 600) per year in revenue. Conclusion: The results show that these composting methods are suitable for VW and Kundasang community conditions, and this study will benefit the community in dealing with VW waste and generating a circular economy while establishing a self-sustaining community. Highlights · A passive aerated pilot-scale composter was used to compost vegetable waste. · Chicken manure is utilized as an activator. · Techno-economic effects and physiochemical aspects of composting were analyzed. · The system generates MYR 25000 annually with a 20-year capital cost normalization.

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