Dustiness of Compostable Waste: a Methodological Approach To Quantify the Potential of Waste To Generate Airborne Micro-Organisms and Endotoxin

• Published in: Waste management & research 1997-04, Vol.15 (2), p.169-187
• Main Authors: Breum, Niels O., Nielsen, Birgitte H., Nielsen, Eva M., Midtgaard, Uffe, Poulsen, Otto M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0734-242X; 1096-3669
• DOI: 10.1177/0734242X9701500205

The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of different waste storage systems on the potential of the waste to emit airborne dust, micro-organisms and endotoxin. Batches of 8.8 kg of compostable waste were mcubated at 20°C for periods of 1-2 weeks in three different storage systems: a system with relatively free access of air (FA) to the waste (paper bags in the kitchen, paper sacks outside the house), a system with low access (LA) of air (plastic bags in the kitchen, a container outside the house), and an intermediate (IA) system (trash can in the kitchen, a container outside the house). The compostable waste was prepared in the laboratory using a standard recipe simulating average kitchen waste in Denmark Weight loss and temperature of the waste were recorded during the storage period. After incubation, the volume of percolate was determined and the dustiness of the waste was measured in terms of the potential of the waste to emit bio-aerosols in a rotating drum. Storage in the FA system resulted in high weight loss of the waste (15-25% per week), a maximum temperature of 45°C and no percolate was observed. The LA system resulted in low weight loss (