Isolation of A Nocardiopsis Chromatogenes Strain That Degrades PLA (Polylactic Acid) From Pig Waste–Based Compost

A new Nocardiopsis species that degrades polylactic acid (PLA) was isolated from pig dung–based compost from a municipal composting facility in Japan. To obtain strains capable of efficient PLA degradation, we minimized the effect of non-enzymatic degradation of PLA by maintaining the temperature at 37°C or below. After screening a total of 15 animal waste–based compost samples, consisting of pig dung, cow dung, horse dung, or chicken droppings, we found that compost derived from pig dung was most efficient for degradation of PLA film, and used it for isolation of PLA-degrading microorganisms. Screening for PLA-degrading microorganisms in compost was performed using an agar plate–based method; an emulsifier was omitted to avoid selection of strains that assimilated the emulsifier instead of PLA in the medium. After repeated enrichment, six strains were obtained. One strain that exhibited stable PLA degradation on agar plates was subjected to genomic analysis and identified as Nocardiopsis chromatogenes, an actinomycete.

Composting as Sustainable Managing Option for Seaweed Blooms on Recreational Beaches

Purpose Seaweed blooms are an irregular but frequent phenomenon in many coastal areas and during the touristic season, can cause limitations for recreational use of beaches. Here, we propose composting of seaweed removed from the shoreline as alternative to current management practices (e.g. disposal in landfills or incineration). Methods A co-composting strategy with garden prune waste was chosen for the treatment of seaweed blooms removed from the beaches. Composting was performed in windrows of 10 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1 m high using different ratios of algae and garden prune residues (1:2; 1:1 and 2:1) at a composting facility in Rota (Cádiz, Spain). Results Characteristic temperature profiles consisting of a very brief mesophilic phase, a 15–20-day thermophilic phase (maximum of 50–70 °C) and a second mesophilic phase (40–35ºC) after 30–50 days were observed. After curing for more than 160 days, a stabilized non-phytotoxic composted material (50–70 g kg−1 C; 2–3 g kg−1 N; C/N ratio of 21–27 and electrical conductivity between 1.8–2.4 mS cm−1) was obtained. Composting worked best using a 2:1 ratio (prune waste:algae). The composted organic material showed larger presence of stabilized lignin-derived compounds as assessed via nuclear magnetic resonance. No odors were detected during the composting process suggesting that open-air treatment is feasible. Conclusion The co-composting strategy provides a safe, local and sustainable approach to deal with seaweed blooms during peaks of recreational use and in situations where algae have to be removed. Graphic Abstract

Characterising populations living close to intensive farming and composting facilities in England

Bioaerosol exposure has been linked to adverse respiratory conditions. Intensive farming and composting facilities are important anthropogenic sources of bioaerosols. We aimed to characterise populations living close to intensive farming and composting facilities. We also infer whether the public are becoming more concerned about anthropogenic bioaerosol emissions, using reports of air pollution related incidents attributed to facilities. We mapped the location of 1,257 intensive farming and 310 composting facilities in England in relation to the resident population and its characteristics (sex and age), area characteristics (deprivation proxy and rural/urban classification) and school locations stratified by pre-defined distance bands from these bioaerosol sources. We also calculated the average number of air pollution related incidents per year per facility. We found that more than 16% of the population and 15% of schools are located within 4,828 m of an intensive farming facility or 4,000 m of a composting facility; few people (0.01 %) live very close to these sites and tend to be older people. Close to composting facilities, populations are more likely to be urban and more deprived. The number of incidents were attributed to a small proportion of facilities; population characteristics around these facilities were similar. Results indicate that populations living near composting facilities (particularly>250 to ⩽ 4,000 m) are mostly located in urban areas (80%–88% of the population), which supports the need for more community health studies to be conducted. Results could also be used to inform risk management strategies at facilities with higher numbers of incidents.

Guidance on Making Compost from Organic Waste in Jatimukti Village, Jatinangor District, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Indonesia

Compost is a fertilizer that is produced from the decomposition of organic matter by active microorganisms. Jatimukti Village, Jatinangor Subdistrict, Sumedang Regency is a village that produces a lot of waste. Based on observations, the village looks suitable and has the potential to be introduced to the type of compost as organic material in farmers’ gardens. This service aims to foster and direct the people of Jatimukti Village community to have the skills to make compost from organic waste. Community service is carried out through socialization and training on composting. The demonstration of composting is done by using the composting facility that has been prepared. This dedication involves lecturers and students of the Department of Mathematics, Universitas Padjadjaran, as well as the people of Jatimukti Village. The results achieved were made of composters and compost made together, and the ways of making compost by utilizing waste in the community. After being given good and proper waste management training, the community can overcome the surrounding waste problems, and it is hoped that the community can evaluate the management that has been carried out before.

A practical application for monitoring methane in ambient air at waste disposal facillities using a portable open path analyzer

It is well known that methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas, and one of the main gases emittedfrom landfills, CH4 is also emitted from biogasification facilities and composting facilities, Anew method to monitor CH4 in ambient air has been developed using a portable open pathmethane analyzer (POMA) that is retailed as an urban gas leak detector. In this study, we haveinvestigated a practical application of a POMA in the field, and the characteristics of CH4emissions at landfill sites, biogasification facilities, and a composting facility,It is clear that this new method is convenient, and can be used to monitor the averageconcentration of CH4 in ambient air at a waste disposal facility, such as a landfill site, acomposting facility, or a biogasification facility, The concentration of CH4 in ambient air atlandfill sites, a composting facility, and biogasification facilities were found to be 2-30, 2-13,and 3-13 ppm, respectively,