Recycling of nutrients from organic waste by advanced compost technology- A case study

Composting is widely used as an easily operated and economical method to manage organic wastes. However, the long residence time of composting impedes the recycling nutrients from large amounts of organic wastes produced every day. In this study, the intelligent biodrying + continuous dynamic trough (IB + CDT) was created and used in China's first urban and rural organic waste treatment and utilization demonstration center in Suzhou city. Results showed that IB + CDT composting had higher temperature, more reduction of moisture than windrow composting, enhancing 40% of composting efficiency. Primary fermentation of the IB + CDT composting in the indoor conditions could achieve the harmless treatment (GI > 80%) of compost within 12 days. The IB + CDT composting product enhanced 17% soil organic matter and 11% available nitrogen. The IB + CDT composting mode could earn 57.6 USD/ton by recycling organic waste and producing organic fertilizer, leading to a sustainable and profitable mode.