Feasibility Study for Bio Compost Production from Babol MSW

Site selection for MSW land filling in Babol due to different social and environmental considerations such as sporadic settlements and high under ground water table, faces severe difficulties. Thus it is necessary to reduce the stream of MSW and divert it from landfilling. Bio composting is one of the ways to reduce the volume of MSW reaching the landfill. To find out about the percentage of putrescible materials in Babol MSW, random sampling of MSW was carried out through 2002-2003, in spring, summer, fall and winter at Angelsi the only landfill site for Babol MSW. In each season sampling is carried for seven days a week. Each day 20 samples were taken and analyzed. The volume of each sample was 0.5 cubic meter. Therefore 140 samples were taken in each season. In each season 10 samples were taken for humidity measurement and further chemical analysis for C/N determination. The results show that from 200 tons of MSW generated in Babol every day, 148 tons (74%) is putrescible materials. Humidity of putrescible materials is (75%) and carbon to nitrogen ratio is 15. One can adjust C/N ratio of MSW by adding saw dust with C/N 500 to MSW. Each year about 54020 tons of compostable materials with the value of $ 250,000 is buried in Babol MSW landfill site. Hoping this paper paves the way for optimal usage of these materials.