Impact of using additives in composting food waste

This research was focused onto food waste composting with some additives. It studies the impact of additive on the process of food waste composting. Additives used were sawdust and biochar. Composting samples were cooked potatoes, cooked rice and vegetables. The objective of this study was to compare 6 composts of different compositions. A-100% food waste, B-10% sawdust and 90% food waste, C-10% sawdust from rat's litter and 90% food waste, D-20% sawdust and 80% food waste, E-40% sawdust and 60% food waste and F-10% sawdust + 10% biochar and 80% food waste. The process of composting took 63 days and the composts were tested for physicochemical properties (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity) and biological properties (phytotoxicity test). The research results revealed that the concentration of 20% sawdust as additive was optimal for food waste compost because the compost exhibited the optimum pH and EC value, and the test of phytotoxicity proved the best results, too. The concentration of 20% sawdust was better than the concentration of 40% sawdust as the latter represented a large volume quantity.