Composting at the Federal University of Minas Gerais

The solid waste produced at UFMG's Pampulha campus is disposed of in various ways. Waste from the maintenance of green spaces is sent for composting and to landfill, whilst the majority of food waste is disposed of under conditions about which little is known. At the same time, the lack of characterisation of the organic compost produced at the university means it has to deal with a material about which little is known regarding its effectiveness as a fertiliser and its potential hazards. Assuming composting as an alternative for the disposal of green solid waste (GSW) and food waste generated at UFMG, this book, the result of a monograph produced in partnership with various university departments, summarises the fundamentals of the process and contextualises organic waste management on campus within the framework of public policies for solid waste management. At the same time, it introduces an innovative method for incorporating food waste into compost piles and evaluates the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the fertiliser produced using only SGW, as well as when food waste is incorporated and at different turning frequencies.