Abstract
The expanding population is leading to a continuous rise in the quantity of generated waste. Due to this, there is a need to recycle the waste generated so that it can be reused. Composting is a highly attractive method to manage and recycle waste generated, both because of the ease of management and for the lower cost compared to other treatments. In this study, eight different combinations of waste with wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge as the principal waste and other plant waste in different proportions (garden waste, grape stalks, forest waste, olive and almond tree pruning cuttings, straw, and sawdust) were prepared. Composting in outdoor piles was carried out for 220 days, with weekly turning and watering as needed. At the end of the process eight composts were obtained with nutrient contents ranging from 2.23-3.24% total nitrogen (TN), 1.04-3.06% P2O5 and 0.37-1.99% K2O, with characteristics suitable for use in agriculture. Phytotoxicological and ecotoxicological evaluations showed that the generated composts had a growth-stimulation effect (germination rate greater than 100%) and very low environmental risk coefficients (risk coefficient less than 1).
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