• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of composting of vegetable wastes containing high moisture. The parameters investigated were the effect of energy source addition, difference in bulking agent and recirculation of leachate produced during composting. Laboratory scale composting reactors were used in this study. Chinese cabbages were used as a vegetable waste. Dog food was added to the vegetable waste as a energy source. Wood chips and leaves of platan were used as bulking agents. There may be an appropriate amount of energy source to be added for composting high moisture content vegetable waste. In this study, the appropriate amount of energy source was 20% of the vegetable waste by weight basis. Recirculation of total amount of leachate produced each day on the same day may not be an appropriate approach due to the significant heat-quenching effect. When the total amount of leachate produced was equally devided and recirculated everyday through the whole composting period, the heat-quenching effect was comparatively less significant. There were no notable differences in the temperature profile and the $CO_2$ evoluation rate when leaves were used instead of wood chips as bulking agents. Considering waste recycling, it is desirable to use leaf waste as bulking agents if available, because the leaves are also wastes to be disposed of.