This document discusses compost production from urban waste. It defines compost as organic matter that has been biologically decomposed and stabilized through heat generation to benefit plant growth. Urban areas generate large amounts of waste daily, which contains organic material that can be used to produce compost. The process involves collecting, transporting, and segregating waste, then arranging it into windrows for microbial decomposition. Turning, nutrient addition, screening, and storage produce a final compost product. However, urban waste composting presents challenges like waste quantities, pathogen removal, and high costs.

1. University of Agricultural Sciences
GKVK, Bengaluru
Commercial Compost Production
CMA – 406(0+5)

2. Bhanuprakash.N
MSc.(Agronomy)
CCSHAU HISAR
-:Compost Production
from Urban Waste:-

3. Composting :
It is a microbial process by which biodegradable organic
material is converted into stable humus by various
microorganisms

4. •Compost definition :-
A mixture that consists of decayed organic matter
and is used for fertilizing and conditioning the land.
OR
Compost is the product resulting from the
controlled biological decomposition of organic
material that has been sanitized through the
generation of heat and ‘processed further to reduce
pathogens’(PFRP),and stabilized to the point that it is
beneficial to plant growth.

5. URBAN WASTE
Domestic and industrial waste
25% of India’s total population lives in urban areas
They generate 16 million tons of waste
Average wastes generated per person per day in 8 major cities of India 450
gm
Industrial societies in USA alone produce 11 billion tons of solid waste each
year
Urban waste generating industries are cigarette making, mining and
metallurgy, fertilizers etc.
Building construction works constitute sufficient solid waste

6. Urban waste Composting
Urban waste is ;
 Municipal or City waste
 Mass of Heterogeneous
Decomposable 25% -90%
Recyclable 5% -10%
Metals 1% -2%

7.  The Organic component is an Ideal soil enricher.
 Dumping these entire waste in untreated from lead to
problems.
Toxic leachates
Foul smell
Heavy metals like Ni, Cd, Ar & Pb

10. Source: CPHEEO Manual on MSW, 2005

11. Methods of handling Urban waste
1. Centralized method – by Municipal authority
2. De-centralized method – In-situ
(small scale)

12. Centralized Method
1. Collection
2. Transportation
3. Segregation –Manually
Decomposable
Recyclable
Non-Decomposable

13. 1. Collection of waste

14. 2. Transportation of waste

15. 3. Segregation of Collected waste

16. •Steps in Urban waste composting:
Biological process for decomposition of
city garbage
Mechanical process for screening the decomposed organic
matter

17. Step 1:-
Selection of site for establishing a compost production
unit.
It involves windrows.(2-3m ht,5m b &50-100m l)
Garbage received from Urban areas is arranged in
heaps (windrows)

19. •Step 2 :-
Microbial culture or special mixture(slurry) should
sprayed in sufficient quantities.
Help in speed decomposition of the organic waste.
The C:N ratio of the material is reduced.

20. Exothermic reaction.
Volume is reduced by 30-50%.
Decomposition is completed in 45-60 Days
Composting is monitored by measuring
temperature and moisture.

21. MICRO ORGANISMS INVOVLED……
Mesophiles:-
Bacteria – Pseudomonas spp, Achromobacter spp
Bacillus spp , Clostridium spp
Fungi - Alternaria spp, Aspergillus spp
Mucor spp
Thermophiles :-
Bacteria - Thermus spp, Micropolyspora spp
Fungi - Sporaticum thermophile
Torula thermophile

22. Turning of windrows

25. Composting by De-centralized method

26. Community composting

27. Nutrient enrichment (Step 3)
By 2 ways
1. pre – composting
2. Post - composting
Azotobacter Neem cake
Rhizobium mahua cake
PSB Rock phosphate
Zinc sulphate

28. Mechanical process (step 4)
 Mechanical process is essential for screening out the
digested organic matter in pure form.
 In case of Urban waste, Sieves of 3 sizes are used.
1. 25mm sieve –To retain the bigger
particles and plastics.
2. 10mm sieve – To remove the metal
pieces.
3. 6/4mm sieve – To get uniform compost

31. Compost storage structure

32. Nutrient composition-
pH : 6.5- 9 Ca : 1-3%
Ec : < 1dS/m Mg : 1-3%
O.C : 20-30% S : 2-30 ppm
C:N ratio : 20-30:1 Fe : 100-25000 ppm
N : 1.2% Mn : 25-200 ppm
P : 1.9% Zn : 10-50 ppm
K : 1.4% Cu : 0.5 ppm

33. Problems associated with handling
Urban waste
Huge quantity & Rain
Organic & Metal pieces mixtures
Pathogens in Urban waste
Poisonous ions
High economic investment

34. Advantages & Disadvantages of Urban
compost
• Huge quantity is available
• High NPK content
• Segregation is laborious process
• Problem of Bad odour
• Collection is difficult

35. What are the
improvements in other
countries compare to us

36. Collection of waste

37. Sorting machine

38. Windrow making

41. Watering through sprinkler

42. Compost sieving

43. Compost Storage structure

44. •