Evaluation of accelerated biomass composting methodologies

Abstract

The issue of biological waste management is an increasingly serious challenge in urban and rural areas across Europe. Adapting to evolving European Union legislation, such as the Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive, requires shifting from landfilling towards efficient recycling schemes that support a circular economy. This study aims to design a biowaste recycling methodology suitable for regions with a high share of rural settlements.  Through the evaluation of parameters such as carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio, moisture content, and aeration requirements, we identified that conventional technological systems often fail to adequately handle the high nutrient and moisture levels typical of municipal organic waste. As a methodology, we analyzed advanced composting models, specifically aerated static pile and in-vessel systems, to establish baseline parameters for forced aeration and moisture control. Based on these parameters, the result is a novel proposed processing method involving the optimal mixing of biowaste with carbon-rich bulking agents (specifically immature brown coal and biochar), precise alternating aeration, vacuum moisture extraction, and final sanitization using ozone. The resulting biomass can be pelletized for easy storage and agricultural application. Because ozone acts as a sterilant, this process transforms traditional living compost into a biologically safe, nutrient-dense organic fertilizer. The originality of this approach lies in the synergistic integration of these physical and chemical treatments into a single, scalable system tailored for decentralized regions. By adopting such localized, highly controlled composting systems, municipalities can significantly reduce transport and disposal costs, while converting biowaste into certified, high-quality organic fertilizers.