Abstract
A large amount of textile waste is generated every year around the globe. The textile product made from natural fibers might be vermicomposted and used as fertilizer. The present study aimed to research an integrated system of pre-composting (pathogen kill) and vermicomposting with various levels of post-consumer cotton waste to determine if this addition has any effects on the composting process. A vermicompost bin was constructed and filled with feedstocks mixed with post-consumer cotton textile waste at a 25:1 C:N ratio, and operated for three months at approximately 70% moisture content, with four composting trials with 0 g (control), 100 g, 200 g, and 300 g of textile waste. The pre-composting stage reached a temperature ranging from 40 °C to 50 °C, able to neutralize the pathogens. All four trials resulted in final compost with C: N ratios around 14, proving that post-consumer cotton textile waste did not affect the vermicomposting process, and was successfully used as a carbon source by worms to produce a healthy and mature compost. This indicates a sustainable option for the recovery of textile waste that is being decomposed in landfills.
Highlights
The increasing generation of solid waste is inextricably linked to global population growth and improved standards of living
Due to the short lifetime of some textile products and fast-fashion trends, post-consumer textile waste, known as discarded solid textile articles which have no more use to the owner, is the most abundant and exhibits a major management concern
The present study investigated the feasibility of vermicomposting on post-consumer cotton waste to test an integrated system of pre-composting and vermicomposting with varying levels of post-consumer cotton waste to determine if this addition has any effects on the composting process and the grade of the end product
Summary
The increasing generation of solid waste is inextricably linked to global population growth and improved standards of living. The increasing growth of the world population results in an increase in textile demand and rising living standards, causing overconsumption due to fast-fashion trends [1,2]. Due to the short lifetime of some textile products and fast-fashion trends, post-consumer textile waste, known as discarded solid textile articles which have no more use to the owner, is the most abundant and exhibits a major management concern. From 1960 to 2017, for instance, the yearly amount of post-consumer textile waste generated in the United States has increased nearly tenfold [3]. Textiles Tuesday reported that the average person disposes of 37 kg of textile waste each year, which 95% representing 35 kg could be reused or recycled [4]
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