Efficient Organic Waste Management via Rotary Drum Composter: A Review

Effective management of organic wastes continues to pose a major challenge in areas of high urbanization growth, especially in developing countries such as India, where the population and rate of consumption of resources are putting pressure on the existing waste management systems. Of the various alternatives available, composting has been identified as a promising and cost‐effective method of transforming organic wastes into useful products. In this regard, rotary drum composting, which is an in‐vessel composting method, has shown promising results, as it can hasten the degradation of wastes through aeration and mixing. In this review, a critical evaluation of the operational aspects of rotary drum composting systems is presented, especially regarding various physicochemical and biological factors. The importance of operational variables like moisture content, C/N ratio, aeration rate, and turning frequency is discussed. Additionally, the effect of different bulking agents, such as agricultural residues and invasive weeds, is presented. Moreover, the suitability of rotary drum composting in decentralized waste management systems for both developed and developing countries is discussed. The discussion reveals that rotary drum composting can reduce composting time significantly while maintaining a uniform and stable quality of final products. However, there are still challenges to be addressed in terms of energy consumption and optimization. Additionally, research gaps in the area of long‐term performance, emissions, and techno‐economic aspects of the process are identified. It is revealed that rotary drum composting is a potential solution for sustainable waste management with proper addressing of operational and policy‐related challenges.