Chemical composition of putrescible vegetable matter in municipal waste from Karachi—a case study

Abstract

During studies on ‘Refuse Recycling Processes in Karachi’ for the United Nations Centre for Human Settlement (UNCHS-Habitat), a chemical evaluation of organic putrescible matter, a major component of recyclable materials, was carried out. The average putrescible matter (after sorting) had pH 6·1; moisture 39·5%; organic matter 56%; carbon 34%; nitrogen 1·2%; and C/N 28. These figures are in conformity with the optimum values needed for aerobic composting and hence this portion of refuse is a suitable material for bioconversion.