Valorization of sawdust by co-composting with food waste using a small-scale composter

Authors

• Hadi Bello * ¹
• Akeem Adebayo Jimoh ²

1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
2. Department of Chemical, Geological and Physical Sciences, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to produce a value-added product by co-composting sawdust with food waste using a small-scale composter.
Method The composting experiment was carried out using 60L composting bins with a hole of 3 mm and 10 cm apart drilled on its side. Three experimental trials 1, 2 and 3 were adopted in this study with mixture of sawdust and food waste (Trial 1= 80% sawdust + 20% food waste, Trial 2 = 70% sawdust + 30% food waste, Trial 3 = 60% sawdust + 40% food waste). The composting process lasted for 90 days. Parameters examined throughout the composting process include temperature, moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, and organic matter losses.
Results The results indicated that all the compost trials exhibit good development of composting process, with the highest solid organic degradation reached in a shorter period in compost trial 3. The temperature profile of the three trials are the same and above 60 ⁰C after 30 days of composting. The compost samples had a pH ranging from 5.9 to 9.4. The electrical conductivity of the three composting trials was following the recommended value. The best compost trial that produces quality compost is compost trial 3.
Conclusion The results showed that all composts obtained were stable and matured. In brief, recycling sawdust through the composting process to obtain valuable end products is adequate but in the presence of nitrogen-rich waste, such as waste food materials.

Highlights

• Food waste is found as a suitable material for composting Sawdust.
• Composting of Food waste and Sawdust can be done at different proportion.
• Perforated compost bin is effective in terms of maintaining aerobic process during composting.
• Composting can be done on a small scale where there is limited space.
• The mixture of Sawdust and food waste at 60: 40 ratios constituted the best experimental condition.

Keywords

• Compost
• Composting techniques
• Food waste
• Sawdust