Disposal of garden waste using food waste inoculant in rotary drums and their ranking using analytical hierarchy process

Abstract

The present study scientifically investigates the disposal of garden waste using food waste as an effective microbial inoculant. Fresh food waste was covered for seven days for development of fungus to boost lignin degradation. 100 kg garden waste was shredded to particle size 0.5–1.5 cm diameter, mixed with 10 kg food waste inoculant and feed into rotary drum for 45 days composting period. Total volatile solids reduction, moisture reduction, CO2 evolution rate, germination index, lignin degradation, coliforms reduction and changes in temperature were monitored. Cow-dung and fresh compost, easily available inoculants were also explored and investigated along with food waste inoculant to fasten the degradation process and to achieve the best combination. As per analytical hierarchy process, disposal of 100 kg garden waste with mixed combination of food waste, cow-dung and compost inoculant in (10:1:1:1) ratio proved to be best microbial inoculant combination for garden waste disposal.