Abstract
Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) is generated in large quantities during production, processing, and consumption. Several conventional methods are used for treating the FVW, such as incineration, landfill, anaerobic digestion, and composting. Compared to these methods, vermicomposting has the advantages of effective stabilization of the organic wastes like FVW through joint action of earthworms and microorganisms in decomposition of the easily decaying organic constituents and of higher reuse value for its final product as organic fertilizer. However, treating fresh FVW directly by vermicomposting is difficult to be conducted because of higher water content and C/N ratio of FVW. Excess activated sludge (EAS), as the main by-product of sewage treatment process, is also an organic waste consisting of microorganisms that can be treated by vermicomposting. Vermicomposting of fresh FVW with the addition of EAS is not only reported as a feasible option to solve the problem caused by the higher water content and C/N ratio of FVW but also can enhance the treatment process. The rich content of microorganisms, nitrogen, and phosphorus in EAS can promote the growth of earthworms and enhance the microbial activity, thus improving the decomposition efficiency of FVW and improving the utilization value of the final product as fertilizer. The present chapter summarizes the several conventional treatment methods of FVW and proposes a more feasible and sustainable treatment method of FVW by vermicomposting with the addition of EAS.
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Li, W., Bhat, S.A., Wei, Y., Li, F. (2020). Vermicomposting Treatment of Fruit and Vegetable Waste and the Effect of the Addition of Excess Activated Sludge. In: Bhat, S., Vig, A., Li, F., Ravindran, B. (eds) Earthworm Assisted Remediation of Effluents and Wastes. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4522-1_9
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