1995 Annual Report for FNC95-112
On-Farm Food Waste Composting
Summary
Conposting of non-recyclable organic materials not only relieves the tremendous pressure on landfills, but also provides a valuable product to enhance soil fertility and tilth.
Objectives: 1) To offer composting as an alternative to landfilling of waste food and other non-recyclable organic wastes; and 2) To combine rural waste, such as manure and waste fodder, with urban food and paper waste, and turn them into a valuable commodity.
Results: It was shown that without large capital costs, food wastes from restaurants, supermarkets, school cateterias, etc. could be diverted from landfills and combined with rural wastes, such as straw and manure, in an on-farm composting project. Analyses of the ocmposet revealed no harmnful heavy metals or pathogens. No attempt was made to explore the mrketing/dispoosal of the compost, other than utilizing it as an on-farm organic fertilizer.