Authors: Déportes¹; Benoit-Guyod¹; Zmirou²; Bouvier³

Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology, Volume 85, Number 2, August 1998 , pp. 238-246(9)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

The disinfection capacity of a municipal solid waste (MSW) composting plant (Siloda^®) has been evaluated. In spring and summer, MSW was followed during the composting process from raw material to mature compost and long-term storage (1 year). Ascaris eggs, Salmonella, Shigella, total streptococci, faecal streptococci, total coliforms, faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli were studied. Disinfection was successful in terms of a decrease in faecal contamination indicators and disappearance of faecal pathogens. Faecal coliform concentrations in raw waste reached 2·1 × 10⁸ cfu g⁻¹ dry weight in spring (CI 95% : 5·2 × 10⁷-3·4 × 10⁸) and 7·2 × 10⁸ cfu g⁻¹ dry weight (1 × 10⁸-1·7 × 10⁹) in summer, and fell to less than 100 cfu g⁻¹ dry weight within 20 d. Faecal streptococci concentrations reached 8·7 × 10⁸ cfu g⁻¹ dry weight (3·7 × 10⁸-1·3 × 10⁹) in spring and 2·0 × 10⁹ cfu g⁻¹ dry weight (5·6 × 10⁸-3·4 × 10⁹) in summer, and fell to 8·7 × 10⁴ cfu g ⁻¹ dry weight (6·9 × 10⁴-1·0 × 10⁵). No seasonal pattern of contamination, mainly of animal origin, was observed. Microbiological quality of finished compost depends on the storage conditions. Therefore, the storage stage should be viewed as part of the composting process. Monitoring disinfection capacity of MSW composting needs to combine several microbial populations.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.1998.00484.x

Affiliations: 1: GEDEXE, Meylan cedex, 2: Laboratoire de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, 3: Laboratoire d'Analyse des Eaux, Domaine de la Merci, La Tronche, France

Publication date: 1998-08-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Microbiology
• By this author: Déportes ;  Benoit-Guyod ;  Zmirou ;  Bouvier

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers