Biodegradation of food waste using microorganisms isolated from the environment

Biodegradation of food waste is a key component of sustainable waste management that can bring significant environmental and economic benefits. The use of biological methods for waste disposal represents environmentally friendly technologies with high efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of biodegradation of food waste using microorganisms from the environment in an aerobic process in an ECHO respirometer in accordance with ISO 14855-1:2012. The biodegradation process was carried out at 58 °C ± 2 °C and adequate humidity. During the experiment, CO2 production and O2 consumption were monitored, and the degree of biodegradation was determined. In the study, combinations based on variable organic waste content and the dose of microorganisms in suspension were used. In addition, a commercial biopreparation designed to promote composting was used. A significant improvement in the degree of waste biodegradation was observed with the addition of microorganisms isolated from the environment. Increasing the dose of microorganisms did not significantly improve the efficiency of the process. The commercial biopreparation used was characterised by low efficiency, and no increase in the degree of biodegradation of waste was observed after its use.