Characterization of University
Residential and Canteen Solid Waste
for Composting and Vermicomposting
Development
Nurmin Bolong and Ismail Saad
Abstract Composting involves the biological decomposition of materials (solid
or semi-solid) using microorganisms over a period of time, resulting in organic
material degradation and volume reduction. The composting process has always been
a part of natural ecosystems and four basic components: organic matter, moisture,
oxygen, and bacteria. However, failure to understand the complexity of biological,
chemical, and physical processes can hinder a composting system. Furthermore,
inadequate optimization of modern composting in urban waste streams can lead to
excessive waste in open dumps and landfills. In this study, solid waste taken from
four residential sources and one commercial source (canteen) at Universiti Malaysia
Sabah (UMS) was characterized. The main component (87%) of this waste was found
to be organic or food refuse. Composting experiments on this waste were conducted
using a laboratory-scale custom-made setup under five different conditions, and their
compost products were quantitatively analyzed. Vermicomposting produced compost
with better NPK content than an open composting system. All compost products
were found to have pH values between 6 and 7.5, making them suitable for plant
growth. Electrical conductivity (EC) was observed to be lower than that required for
plant growth (<2.0 dS/m EC) but in the optimum range for earthworm biological
conditions. Vermicomposting reduced bulk density, which is preferred for healthy
soil since it promotes root movement and increases water and air penetration. Actual
plant growth using the compost product from red worms was found to yield better
plant weight (g/g), height, and leaves (mm
2 /mm
2 ). The addition of BOPS was found
to slightly reduce plant growth, however resulted moisture content reduction and
potentially reduce bad odors.
Keywords Vermicomposting · Waste characterization · Sustainable campus
N. Bolong (B) · I. Saad
Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
e-mail: nurmin@ums.edu.my
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
A. Z. Yaser (ed.), Green Engineering for Campus Sustainability,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7260-5_14
193
Residential and Canteen Solid Waste
for Composting and Vermicomposting
Development
Nurmin Bolong and Ismail Saad
Abstract Composting involves the biological decomposition of materials (solid
or semi-solid) using microorganisms over a period of time, resulting in organic
material degradation and volume reduction. The composting process has always been
a part of natural ecosystems and four basic components: organic matter, moisture,
oxygen, and bacteria. However, failure to understand the complexity of biological,
chemical, and physical processes can hinder a composting system. Furthermore,
inadequate optimization of modern composting in urban waste streams can lead to
excessive waste in open dumps and landfills. In this study, solid waste taken from
four residential sources and one commercial source (canteen) at Universiti Malaysia
Sabah (UMS) was characterized. The main component (87%) of this waste was found
to be organic or food refuse. Composting experiments on this waste were conducted
using a laboratory-scale custom-made setup under five different conditions, and their
compost products were quantitatively analyzed. Vermicomposting produced compost
with better NPK content than an open composting system. All compost products
were found to have pH values between 6 and 7.5, making them suitable for plant
growth. Electrical conductivity (EC) was observed to be lower than that required for
plant growth (<2.0 dS/m EC) but in the optimum range for earthworm biological
conditions. Vermicomposting reduced bulk density, which is preferred for healthy
soil since it promotes root movement and increases water and air penetration. Actual
plant growth using the compost product from red worms was found to yield better
plant weight (g/g), height, and leaves (mm
2 /mm
2 ). The addition of BOPS was found
to slightly reduce plant growth, however resulted moisture content reduction and
potentially reduce bad odors.
Keywords Vermicomposting · Waste characterization · Sustainable campus
N. Bolong (B) · I. Saad
Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
e-mail: nurmin@ums.edu.my
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
A. Z. Yaser (ed.), Green Engineering for Campus Sustainability,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7260-5_14
193