Performance of a new household composter during in-home testing

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 204 - 213
• Main Authors: Papadopoulos, A.E., Stylianou, M.A., Michalopoulos, C.P., Moustakas, K.G., Hapeshis, K.M., Vogiatzidaki, E.E.I., Loizidou, M.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Data Collection; Exact sciences and technology; Family Characteristics; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nitrogen; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Pilot Projects; Pollution; Refuse Disposal - methods; Soil; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban and domestic wastes; Wastes; Water; Greece; Compost; Domestic refuse; Composting
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2008.03.016

This article presents the methodology and the results of the performance testing of a prototype system for the production of high quality compost from biodegradable household waste separated at the source. Selected households in three municipalities of the Attica Region in Greece constituted the users of the home composter. The results indicated the effective operational performance of the prototype household composter in practice (use of the system by the householders on a daily basis), as well as the high level of response of the householders in adopting the composting practice in their daily activities as common practice. The compost that was produced in the households was characterized by high quality, which is in accordance with the quality standards that are set for its use. In only a few cases (in the first cycle of the pilot implementation) the quality of the compost was not high due to the fact that some householders were not yet familiar with the use of the composter, but these operational problems were solved and the compost that was later produced was considered high quality.