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Subject Area

Production Engineering and Mechanical Design

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

This study evaluates the technical feasibility of composting shredded printed paper blended with organic waste using a manually operated aerobic composting system. The investigation focused on process performance under controlled initial conditions, particularly an optimized carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of 30:1. Three composting piles were constructed with systematic variations in moisture content, aeration frequency, and additive composition (poultry manure, yeast, crushed eggshells, and cardboard) to assess their influence on thermal behavior and decomposition efficiency. Process performance was monitored through continuous temperature profiling and periodic observation of physical parameters, including color development and material degradation rate. Among the experimental setups, Pile 3 achieved the highest process efficiency, reaching a peak temperature of 45.5 °C and demonstrating accelerated organic matter breakdown, indicating enhanced microbial activity. In contrast, Pile 1 exhibited limited thermophilic development due to inadequate aeration, while Pile 2 showed reduced efficiency as a result of excessive moisture and substrate compaction caused by paper aggregation. The results demonstrate that printed wastepaper can serve as a viable carbon source in aerobic composting systems when key operational parameters—particularly aeration and moisture control—are properly managed. The findings provide engineering insights into process optimization for biodegradable waste valorization and support the development of efficient small-scale composting systems for organic fertilizer production.

Keywords

Aerobic composting, Organic recycling Paper waste, Soil amendment, C:N ratio, Recycling Machine, Design, Manufacturing.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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