Conversion of food waste into nutrient-rich compost and analysing the effect on physico-chemical parameters by using leaf powder and sawdust as bulking agents

Food waste (FW) management demands sustainable community-level solutions such as composting. This study investigates food waste composting using leaf powder (LP) and sawdust (SD) as bulking agents and their effect on compost physicochemical parameters. Four combination trials of FW, LP, and SD were composted using the heap method for 45 days. The physico-chemical analysis showed that LP and SD, as bulking agents, regulate moisture and enhance the compost quality of food waste.