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Waste Management through Composting: Challenges and Potentials

Author

Listed:
  • Modupe Stella Ayilara

    (Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa)

  • Oluwaseyi Samuel Olanrewaju

    (Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa)

  • Olubukola Oluranti Babalola

    (Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa)

  • Olu Odeyemi

    (Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B. 13, Ile-Ife, Osun 220282, Nigeria)

Abstract

Composting is the controlled conversion of degradable organic products and wastes into stable products with the aid of microorganisms. Composting is a long-used technology, though it has some shortcomings that have reduced its extensive usage and efficiency. The shortcomings include pathogen detection, low nutrient status, long duration of composting, long mineralization duration, and odor production. These challenges have publicized the use of chemical fertilizers produced through the Haber–Bosch process as an alternative to compost over time. Chemical fertilizers make nutrients readily available to plants, but their disadvantages outweigh their advantages. For example, chemical fertilizers contribute to greenhouse effects, environmental pollution, death of soil organisms and marine inhabitants, ozone layer depletion, and human diseases. These have resulted in farmers reverting to the application of composts as a means of restoring soil fertility. Composting is a fundamental process in agriculture and helps in the recycling of farm wastes. The long duration of composting is a challenge; this is due to the presence of materials that take a longer time to compost, especially during co-composting. This review discusses the proper management of wastes through composting, different composting methods, the factors affecting composting, long-duration composting, the mechanism behind it, the present trends in composting and prospects. The extraction of mono-fertilizers from compost, development of strips to test for the availability of heavy metals and pathogens as well as an odor-trapping technique can go a long way in enhancing composting techniques. The addition of activators to raw materials can help to improve the nutritional quality of compost. This review further recommends that degradable organic material in which composts slowly should be assessed for their ability to mineralize slowly, which could make them advantageous to perennial or biennial crops. Viricides, fungicides, anti-nematodes, and anti-bacterial of plant or organic sources could as well be added to improve compost quality. The enhancement of composting duration will also be useful.

Suggested Citation

  • Modupe Stella Ayilara & Oluwaseyi Samuel Olanrewaju & Olubukola Oluranti Babalola & Olu Odeyemi, 2020. "Waste Management through Composting: Challenges and Potentials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:11:p:4456-:d:365165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Konstantia-Ekaterini Lasaridi & Thrassyvoulos Manios & Stamatis Stamatiadis & Christina Chroni & Adamantini Kyriacou, 2018. "The Evaluation of Hazards to Man and the Environment during the Composting of Sewage Sludge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Mukhtar Ahmed & Shakeel Ahmad & Fayyaz-ul-Hassan & Ghulam Qadir & Rifat Hayat & Farid Asif Shaheen & Muhammad Ali Raza, 2019. "Innovative Processes and Technologies for Nutrient Recovery from Wastes: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-20, September.
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