Development of organic fertilizer from food waste by composting in UTHM campus Pagoh

Abstract

In Malaysia, most of the food waste is sent to landfill and produce methane gas which causes greenhouse effect. Hence, the aim of this research is to reduce the food waste at landfill by composting using designed compost bin. The objectives of this research is to reduce the amount of food waste in UTHM Pagoh; develop a composting process for managing food waste and improves its quality for possible use in the growth of plants as well as develop a composter for composting process. Food wastes were collected and put into the designed rotary composter with the consideration of all the parameters that is related to aerobic composting. At the end of the composting process, the temperature of the compost was at ambient temperature and had a pH of 7.5. Results of this study showed that the compost produced consists 0.9% of Total Nitrogen as N, 0.8% Total Phosphorus as P2O5 and 0.4% Total Potassium as K2O which are all in the accepted range of mature organic fertilizer. In conclusion, the composting of basic food waste in campus can produce an acceptable organic fertilizer for plant use will greatly reduce the amount of generated food waste to the landfill.