ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessment on the Quality and Environmental
Impacts of Composting at Institutional Community
using Life Cycle Assessment Approach
| 1 | Institute of Ocean and Earth Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| 2 | Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| 3 | Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering,
University of Nottingham, Broga Road, 43500, Selangor, Malaysia |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Submission date: 2019-10-17
Final revision date: 2020-06-11
Acceptance date: 2020-06-17
Online publication date: 2020-12-11
Publication date: 2021-03-08
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(3):2232–2244
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
Treatment and managementMethods for solid waste disposalOthersInorganic pollutantsOthersEnvironmental managementPollution legislation and data collectionBioenergy from biomassOrganic pollutantsPolicies for environmentally sustainable development
ABSTRACT
Composting is the commonly widespread treatment option in organic fraction of municipal solid
waste and agro-industrial by-products. However some arguments have arisen over the years questioning
its impact on the environment through gaseous emissions and impurities released from the system.
Different composting methods reveal vital differences and the environmental impacts may vary.
Hence, the study aims to assess the quality of the compost using passive-aerated static pile method
in tropical climate and to study the associated environmental impacts. Data were obtained from
an operating small-scaled composting facility corresponding to 1 kg of food waste as functional
unit. The physicochemical properties of the final composts obtained indicate that they were stable
and are according to the Malaysian standards. Seven impact categories were assessed and
the characterized result showed that all sub systems contributed to all impact categories in different
magnitudes. The study clearly resulted by treating food waste and yard waste, it could yield better
greenhouse gas savings and providing valuable information contributing to effective climate change
policy under Malaysia’s settings. Thus, the diversion of FW to composting has considerable potential to
result in a significant net climate benefit and offers great potential in establishing a circular food waste
management system.
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