IIT Guwahati develops new approach to manage organic waste

Guwahati: Researchers from the Waste Management Research Group (WMRG) at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati led by Prof Ajay S Kalamdhad, developed a new approach to assist the municipal corporations to manage organic waste.
The two-stage biodegradation technique combines Rotary Drum Composting with Vermicomposting (RDVC), resulting in an efficient and environmentally friendly process and enables municipal corporations to derive value-added products from organic waste.

According to the institute, this technique was also used to produce nutrient-rich soil conditioner from invasive aquatic weeds like the Water hyacinth.

Municipal solid waste deposited in open dumpsites often contains over 50% organic material, generating substantial heat due to long-term decomposition. “This not only poses environmental challenges but also hinders the achievement of sustainable development goals. Compared to other waste biodegradation techniques that require 2-3 months, Rotary Drum Composting (RDC) can convert diverse organic feedstocks into nutrient-dense compost within just 20 days and significantly reduce the municipal waste volume by 60-70%. However, the limitation of RDC is inferior compost quality. Vermicomposting is a superior biodegradation process that traditionally requires a minimum of 60 days, making the process less adaptable for urban municipal corporations,” a statement from the institute said.