Sustainable Management of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: Microbiological Quality Control During Composting and Its Application in Agriculture on a Pilot Scale

Natividad Miguel (), Andrea López, Sindy Dayana Jojoa-Sierra, Jairo Gómez and María P. Ormad
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Natividad Miguel: Water and Environmental Health Research Group, University Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences of Aragon, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Andrea López: Navarra de Infraestructuras Locales S.A. (NILSA), Avda. Barañain 22, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
Sindy Dayana Jojoa-Sierra: Water and Environmental Health Research Group, University Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences of Aragon, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Jairo Gómez: Navarra de Infraestructuras Locales S.A. (NILSA), Avda. Barañain 22, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
María P. Ormad: Water and Environmental Health Research Group, University Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences of Aragon, Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Within the Life-NADAPTA project (LIFE16 IPC/ES/000001), and in the framework of sustainable waste management, a study was carried out on the microbiological evolution during the composting process of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (FORSU) using aerated static piles and their agricultural application on a pilot scale. This is necessary to ensure effective sanitization of the compost and that its application does not pose any risk. The microbiological parameters considered were as follows: Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli , total coliforms, and Enterococcus sp. The physicochemical parameters moisture, total solids, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals were also evaluated. Salmonella sp. was not detected throughout the process, and the concentration of the three microbiological indicators decreased to the sanitary conditions recommended by legislation. As a result, the compost obtained complied with the requirements set out in the regulations on fertilizer products and was highly stabilized and mature for application on agricultural land. Tests were carried out on the soil before, during and after the vegetative cycle of the crop and on the irrigation water. The soil results showed that the addition of the organic amendment did not alter the populations of the tested micro-organisms at the end of the crop growing cycle. Thus, an adequate treatment of the residues allows them to be used in a sustainable way, but an adequate monitoring of the operational parameters is necessary to ensure this.

Keywords: organic waste valorization; waste sanitization; coliforms; Escherichia coli; Enterococcus sp.; Salmonella sp.; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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