Abstract
Synthetic (plastic) bulking agent was compared with bark bulking agent for the composting of fresh vegetable wastes. Two composting trials of ten weeks duration each were conducted with different quantities of bulking agents. Composting matrix temperature, and oxygen, dimethyl sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were measured weekly. Addition of 19% bark or 7% synthetic (dry weight basis) bulking agent in the composting mixes was found to be sufficient to provide thermophilic temperatures and high matrix oxygen concentrations. The lowest oxygen concentrations within the matrix during the thermophilic period of composting were 12.7 and 5.3% for synthetic and bark amended mixes, respectively. The final products from the synthetic bulking agent mixes were screened through a 6.3 mm (0.25 inch) screen to recover bulking agents. Average recovery by screening was 98.9 ± 0.7% by weight. Concentrations of dimethyl sulfide and hydrogen sulfide measured during the experiments were characterized by large variability. The final products in all cases were biologically stable with stability indices ranging from 0.172 to 0.314 mgO2/gVS/h. Maturity indices ranged between 87.4 and 100% indicating a quality product. The product from synthetic amended mixes contained 0.29% by weight of plastic residues.
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