BIODEGRADABILITIES AND MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES DURING COMPOSTING OF MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE IN BENCH-SCALE REACTORS

Ln the design of large scale, in-vessel systems, the biodegradability of the waste, the optimal nutritional conditions, and the length of ti me required to complete the high-rate phase are important. Because com posting is a microbial process, the overall levels and activities of m icroorganisms influence the rate and extent of degradation. In this st udy, bench-scale reactors were used to determine the biodegradability of municipal solid waste, primarily office trash, and the effects of n utrient supplementation on biodegradability during six weeks of compos ting. Supplementation with nitrogen, phosphorus, vitamins, and trace m inerals did not increase the biodegradability of the waste. Although t he levels of specific microbial subpopulations varied, total numbers o f microorganisms did not change significantly.