Composting of Leaf Litter and Food Waste: Improving Quality and Application by Mixing and Chemical Amendments

Abstract

It is crucial we begin considering recycling a variety of materials, including food waste, to avoid contributing more to landfills, a large contributor of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Food waste is incredibly heterogenous and has a variety of problems. To mitigate these issues, food waste compost from Princeton’s SCRAP Lab was combined with leaf litter and fertilizer to create a nutrient-dense compost. Their temperatures were monitored, unfortunately not reaching mesophilic decomposition due to a few different factors. AgroLab conducted chemical testing comparing in-vessel food waste compost to aged outdoor food waste compost. Their testing revealed vessel food waste compost was of better quality. This study shows food waste compost can be utilized straight from the vessel, but combining it with other materials allows for widespread applications.