Published Paper Details:

India produces about 3000 million tons of MSW annually out of which 40 -50 % are compostable (Sharholy et al., 2007). The quality of the compost is crucial to the commercial viability of MSW compost as it is examined for hazardous microorganisms, heavy metals, and fertilizing characteristics. In the current study, an analysis (both statistical and from the State Organic Fertilizer Testing Laboratory) of the MSW obtained from the 150TPD Municipal Solid Waste Management Plant under Berhampur Municipal Corporation, Berhampur, Odisha, has been done in an attempt to understand the quality of compost so formed by the windrow composting process. The quality of composts was determined using Quality Control Indices such as Fertilizing Index and Clean Index. After analysis, it was discovered that all of the metrics, including moisture content, pH, EC, TOC, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus, Total Potassium, and C/N ratio, as well as heavy metals including zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, lead, and chromium, were within the FCO's acceptable limits. Further Fertility Index and Clean Index were determined for both the samples, and it was found that both the samples had a fertility index value of 4.2 and clean index value of 4.2 for sample I and 3.6 for Sample II was determined. It was found that Sample I belonged to Class A category whereas Sample II belonged to Class C category based on the values of the Indices, which are used to determine the class to which the compost belongs. Therefore, from the perspective of composting, it is recommended that thorough solid waste segregation be done because combined trash degrades compost quality.