Greenhouse gas emissions from home composting of organic household waste

Journal Article · Wed Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.07.004· OSTI ID:21418133

Boldrin, A; Christensen, T H; Scheutz, C ^[1]

---

1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby (Denmark)

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is a potential environmental disadvantage of home composting. Because of a lack of reliable GHG emission data, a comprehensive experimental home composting system was set up. The system consisted of six composting units, and a static flux chamber method was used to measure and quantify the GHG emissions for one year composting of organic household waste (OHW). The average OHW input in the six composting units was 2.6-3.5 kg week{sup -1} and the temperature inside the composting units was in all cases only a few degrees (2-10 {sup o}C) higher than the ambient temperature. The emissions of methane (CH{sub 4}) and nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) were quantified as 0.4-4.2 kg CH{sub 4} Mg{sup -1} input wet waste (ww) and 0.30-0.55 kg N{sub 2}O Mg{sup -1} ww, depending on the mixing frequency. This corresponds to emission factors (EFs) (including only CH{sub 4} and N{sub 2}O emissions) of 100-239 kg CO{sub 2}-eq. Mg{sup -1} ww. Composting units exposed to weekly mixing had the highest EFs, whereas the units with no mixing during the entire year had the lowest emissions. In addition to the higher emission from the frequently mixed units, there was also an instant release of CH{sub 4} during mixing which was estimated to 8-12% of the total CH{sub 4} emissions. Experiments with higher loads of OHW (up to 20 kg every fortnight) entailed a higher emission and significantly increased overall EFs (in kg substance per Mg{sup -1} ww). However, the temperature development did not change significantly. The GHG emissions (in kg CO{sub 2}-eq. Mg{sup -1} ww) from home composting of OHW were found to be in the same order of magnitude as for centralised composting plants.

• OSTI ID: 21418133
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 30; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
COMPOSTING
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
GREENHOUSE GASES
HOUSEHOLDS
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES