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Composting Rubbish: Initial Study on UUM Collected Waste Siti Nurhaliza Othman College of Business, School of Technology Management and Logistic, University Utara Malaysia, 06010, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia Email: sitliza@gmail. com ABSTRACT Composting has been used as a mean of recycling organic matter back into the soil to improve soil structure and fertility. There is the need for a comprehensive infrastructure for reclaiming organic food and yard wastes at University Utara Malaysia.

This paper reviewed information on the current composting practices for treating waste as a mean of addressing the environmental pollution concerns and a project which objective was to study the present state of the on-campus organic waste flows and to design a system to separate, collect, transport and compost this organic waste. This project aim to produce the initial model in UUM for waste composting at a larger scale. Keywords Composting, waste management, environmental pollution 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Solid waste generated in Malaysia constitutes of a large portion of organic material that can be readily composted.

Composting which dispose off the organic material and at the same time producing usable compost as the end product is thought to be a good option for organic wastes disposal. Composting can reduce waste that UUM students throw away every day. The project deliverable is a report describing the present state of the UUM’s organic waste flow, discussing various alternate solutions for the waste collection and composting subsystems and detailing a final solution. The objective of this project is to come out with a model of collecting and composting system for wastes produces in UUM.

It also to reduce land filling, establish the costs and benefits of UUM waste composting, explore the use of various bulking agents and different compost recipes, provide opportunities for compost and composting related education and research and helps evaluate whether or not a large scale campus wide composting project might be worth pursuing. Purpose of the study is to study the present state of the on-campus organic waste flows and to design a system to separate, collect, transport and compost this organic waste. 2. 0 LITERATURE REVIEW

The literature review will be discussing about the principles of the composting process from all aspects. 2. 1 Definition Composting is process that can convert organic waste into a dark-coloured soil that can be used to enrich our garden’s growth and performance (Griffin, 2005). Martin (2005) defined that composting is the biological decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms under controlled, aerobic conditions to a relatively stable humus-like material called compost. Composting can happen in many different ways using a variety of materials, methods, equipment scale of operation.

For agricultural operations the common materials or feedstocks that are composted are livestock manures, bedding and various residual plant materials. Hargreaves et al. (2008) defined municipal solid waste (MSW) compost is increasing used in agriculture as a soil conditioner but also as a fertilizer. 2. 2 Why Composting? 2. 3. 1 Healthier Plant Organic matter is known as the soul of a healthy soil. Adding compost to yard or garden will help plant grow bigger and better. The organic matter in compost helps soil hold on to nutrients and water and it benefit to plants hile reducing the risk of pollution (US Composting Council, 2010). 2. 3. 2 Composting saves money According US Composting Council (2010) using compost as a soil conditioner or mulch reduces need to purchase these lawn and garden products. Composting in backyard may reduce trash removal costs. Many sanitation companies charge customers by the bag. Compost bin could decrease the number of bags household generates. Adding compost to garden can reduce or eliminate the need to buy chemical fertilizers or compost (EPA, 2009). 2. 3. Composting is practical and convenient With composting, no need to bother bagging leaves and other garden or yard wastes. Simply add them to backyard pile or bin and watch these items turn into rich dark humus (US Composting Council, 2010). 2. 3. 4 Composting is good alternative to land filling Yard and garden wastes account for almost 20% of the total amount of trash thrown away each year. Choice to compost reduces the need to burn or bury organic material and increases the quality of precious topsoil (US Composting Council, 2010) 2. 3 The Composting Process

Composting is seen as an environmentally acceptable method of waste treatment (Yvette et al. , 2000). It is an aerobic biological process which uses naturally occurring microorganisms to convert biodegradable organic matter into a hummus like product. The process destroys pathogens, converts N from unstable ammonia to stable organic forms, reduces the volume of waste and improves the nature of the waste. It also makes waste easier to handle and transport and often allows for higher application rates because of the more stable, slow release, nature of the N in compost (Fauziah et al. 2009). The effectiveness of the composting process is influenced by factors such as temperature, oxygen supply such as aeration and moisture content. There are two fundamental types of composting aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic composting is the classification for those compost processes that involve decomposition in the presence of air. Anaerobic composting was traditionally used to compost animal manure and human sewage sludge, but recently is has become more common for some municipal solid waste (MSW) and green waste to be treated in this way (Yvette et al. 2000). Figure 1: The Composting Process During composting, the microorganisms consume oxygen (O2) while feeding on organic matter (Figure 1). Active composting generates considerable heat, and large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor are released into the air. The CO2 and water losses can amount to half the weight of the initial materials, thereby reducing the volume and mass of the final product. 2. 4 Key Parameters During composting, carbon compounds present in biodegradable waste are degraded by various microorganisms.

The microorganisms require a specific environment to reach a high level of activity, including the following parameters (Williams, 2005): Minimum oxygen content of 18%: The minimum oxygen content ensures aerobic conditions. In order to maintain sufficient oxygen in the compost, it has to be aerated. Depending on the scale, it can be done manually, with turning machine or via more complex aeration systems such as a perforated pipe inside the compost pile. Temperature of 30-35°C: In order to maximize biological activity, temperature should rise in the compost heap.

It occurs naturally in large compost heaps but in home-composters, temperature remains often limited which slows down the composting process. Minimum moisture content of 40%: Moisture is essential to bacteria which cannot live without water. However, too much water in the compost blocks the oxygen circulation. pH between 5,5-8: A pH out of this range would threaten biological activity. C/N ratio of input material around 25: A suitable C/N ratio is important because a higher ratio will slow degradation while compost with a lower ratio will produce bad smell.

A way to reach a good C/N ratio is to mix carbon-rich material, such as branches and paper with nitrogen-rich material like food waste and fresh grass. Suitable porosity of input material: Input material should have a small size in order to increase the surface area and thus enhance decomposition, but it should not be too small otherwise it will block oxygen circulation. 2. 5 Different Composting Systems 2. 6. 5 Home Composting This type of composting can be done very easily at home, as long as there is enough space outside to install the composter. The composter can be installed in the garden or on a balcony.

A home-composter is a simple box, made of wood or plastic that can even be home-made. It has a lid to prevent rodent and other animals from eating the compost feedstock, and is in contact with soil to enhance biological activity. 2. 6. 6 Community Composting Community composting, like home-composting, is an on-site treatment. The capacity of a community composter is larger than a home-composter and it can be more sophisticated: the composter might have a forced aeration system or be automatically turned on. It might also have an odor-control system as well as a leachate collection system.

Joly, E (2011). 2. 6. 7 Large-scale Composting At a larger scale, a centralized composting plant enables to treat organic waste for a whole city. It requires organic waste to be source-sorted at home and then collected as a separate fraction. A centralized composting plant allows all kinds of organic waste to be treated, including meat and fish. Indeed, the temperature in the compost piles is higher because of the larger quantity of waste treated, so potential pathogens cannot survive. However, some places do not accept diapers in the separate collection.

A composting plant can use different methods (Williams, 2005): The windrow system is the simplest method: Organic waste is stored into long static piles that are periodically aerated by mechanical turning. In the forced aeration system, instead of turning the piles, air is blown through the compost pile via a perforated pipe, thus allowing a continuous aeration. In-vessel systems are the most sophisticated processes. They are enclosed systems such as a tunnel or drum and they allow control over the process key parameters: temperature, moisture and aeration. In-vessel systems are very often equipped with a biofilter to treat exhaust gases. . 0 METHODOLOGY This chapter discusses the methodology methods that use to get data in this research. Data collection from respondents is the main precondition to complete this project report. The data collected must fulfill certain standards and requirements that meet the specifications of good data. In this study, this research conducted study on composting rubbish that is run in UUM besides initial study on collected UUM waste. The analysis is done by interview, journal, books, magazines, reference book at library and resources from the internet. 4. 0 FINDINGS 4. 1 Organic Waste Flow

This research can concluded that there are two separate solid organic waste stream flows generated on UUM of food wastes and yard wastes. Most of the on-campus waste is from cafeteria around campus and student residence hall cafeteria. Organic Food Input Independent Food Places Student Residences Hall Garborators Sewage System Garbage Bins Laidlaw Organic Food Waste Output Figure 2: Organic Waste Flow From the interview, JPP staff gives information that waste are collected around UUM, after that this waste are dumped into landfills at the Paya Kamunting Jitra, Kedah. 4. System Design The components of an on-campus organic waste composting system are illustrated in Figure 3. The arrows indicate the direction of waste flow between subsystems. Figure 3: Subsystems The system that was designed has three major subsystems: (1) the separation and intermediate storage of food waste at the source of production, (2) the transportation of food waste to the compost site, and (3) a composting facility capable of processing both food and yard wastes. The emphasis of the design effort was on the composting facility for it was the most complex of the subsystems.

Only minor consideration was given to the collection and transportation of yard wastes as it was determined that the present procedures were sufficient. 5. 0 DISCUSSION Based on interview that conducted with UPSB workers and JPP staff, we can see some of the things associated with this waste composting. 5. 1 Method Composting Waste Composting is a dynamic process that occurs slowly or quickly. Composting can be done passively or actively. Waste dead plants and animals that are composting left some time in nature.

This is called passive composting due to take place without requiring a lot of care. Passive composting may take 6-10 months to fully develop. Active composting can take time, which is between 2-4 weeks. This method requires a number of factors, namely: 1. Ventilation to keep turning the compost heap, 2. Humidity, 3. The ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C: N) as appropriate, and 4. The three factors above determine the appropriate temperature (high temperature) to accelerate decomposition, the temperature between 45-70 °C. 5. 2 Composting Problems

Among the problems faced to do this is composting facilities or equipment requiring technology and efficient operation and through the compost it will cause water pollution occurs mainly spoiled if not in the efficient governance. The factors that caused this composting the control of the disease and by composting is greatly in importance to the point that the need to control rats and flies. 5. 3 Alternate Solutions Based on interviews with employers cafeteria and staff UPSB who collect waste, all the trash is not segregated first, it was just thrown in just like that.

There are several ways to solve this problem. 5. 4. 1 Food Waste Separation Subsytem The given that amount of daily waste produced in the residences is so much greater than the other locations, it seems that the collection of all food waste would only be worthwhile as a point of principle and for increasing awareness. If the composting program proves successful, some of the other locations could be justified and accommodated in the future. In the start-up and initial introduction phase, though, it is prudent to collect only from the scrape rooms and kitchens of the residences. 5. 4. 2 Composting Facility Subsytem

The alternate methods of composting for this scale of project are static piles with forced aeration, a simple turning system, open windrows like mechanically turned and in-vessel. 5. 4 Final Solutions for Waste Composting This final solution discussed about how to overcome this problem of waste management and composting rubbish. 5. 5. 3 Food Waste Separation and Collection The final solution for the food separation subsystem has the students separating the compostable food waste from the non-compostable waste on their trays. To encourage and educate the students in food separation, it will be necessary to run an awareness campaign. . 5. 4 Composting Facility The effectively and safely operate a truck-plow-windrow process it would be necessary to grade the site and pave it with a layer of asphalt or similar surfacing agent. A paved and fenced surface of about 150ft. by 300 ft. would be necessary. An effective scheduling procedure must be established to track the agedness of the various sections of piles. The piles should be torn and rebuilt about once a week. Rearranging to often will inhibit the growth of necessary bacteria, rearranging to infrequently will slow aerobic decomposition as the available oxygen levels decrease and as the pile settles and compacts.

A mixture of yard waste and food waste should be used whenever possible, for two reasons. First, the dry leaves act as a bulking agent when mixed with the wetter compost, and second, the leaves increase the C/N ratio closer to 30:1. Table scraps have a 15:1 C/N ratio, and fallen leaves have a 60:1 C/N ratio. To keep the leaves dry and available for composting, when they will either be needed to process the back log of food waste if the decision is made to keep the food waste or to start processing the food waste, some sort of inexpensive shelter should be built to cover them. 6. 0 LIMITATIONS

There are several problems that face when doing this study. 6. 1 Time Time is one important thing when we want create a good research. We do not insufficient time because of the time belongs to a study has been taken to do anything else. Among other things is doing the work of the group assignment, individual assignments and others. At the same time, the mid semester, Aidil Adha and Deepavali coincided causes time gap that make this research abandoned. 6. 2 Others The overall system was required to meet both the following constraints which required feasible investment so it should be financial fees.

Students are yet to be involved or required to participate. As the main inhabitants of the campus, they should also be involved. 7. 0 RECOMMENDATIONS Some other person, group or agency, use the ideas discussed in this project as a basis in formulating a proposal. The purpose of such should be to convince the UUM’s administration that there is a need for a more comprehensive organic waste composting system and that there is a low cost, low impact solution available. 8. 0 CONCLUSIONS The project concluded that there is sufficient need and sufficient room for an on-campus organic waste composting system.

The project also concluded that a low cost, low impact solution is feasible. The best solution would be a simple truck-plow-windrow composting facility that processes a mix of yard waste and food waste. The prime sources of food waste for this type of system are the scraping operations at the university and college residence. This waste would be separated on-site and set aside for pickup and delivery to the composting site. Few modifications to present yard waste collection and disposal procedures would be necessary. REFERENCES Gautam, S. P. , Bundela, P. S. , Pandey, A. K. , Awasthi, M. K. , Sarsaiya, S. (2010).

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