Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality Assessment
The sustainable management of biowaste, mainly food and pruning waste, is currently a challenge due to the increase in its production. The CaMPuSTAJE program, which has been implemented on the campus of the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) since 2019, is an excellent example of how the institutio...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/2910 |
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| author | Cristina Álvarez-Alonso María Dolores Pérez-Murcia Encarnación Martínez-Sabater Ignacio Irigoyen Joseba Sánchez-Arizmendiarrieta Ramón Plana Marga López Isabel Nogués María Ángeles Bustamante |
| author_facet | Cristina Álvarez-Alonso María Dolores Pérez-Murcia Encarnación Martínez-Sabater Ignacio Irigoyen Joseba Sánchez-Arizmendiarrieta Ramón Plana Marga López Isabel Nogués María Ángeles Bustamante |
| author_sort | Cristina Álvarez-Alonso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The sustainable management of biowaste, mainly food and pruning waste, is currently a challenge due to the increase in its production. The CaMPuSTAJE program, which has been implemented on the campus of the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) since 2019, is an excellent example of how the institution is addressing its strategic interests in sustainable waste management. The principal aim of this program is to manage the biowastes generated by the campus canteens through a simple community composting facility, involving UPNA students and graduates. This program aims to promote experiential learning and applied research in sustainability and circular economy, managing their own waste in a circular and local way. Thus, four composting sets of the CaMPuSTAJE program were evaluated by monitoring the process and the main chemical properties of the composting samples. Also, final composts were fully characterized to ensure the process reproducibility and efficiency and the absence of any hazard in the end-products. The final composts showed a significant agronomic quality, had low content of potentially toxic elements, and were free from phytotoxicity, thus being able to be reintroduced as an organic amendment at the university campus itself. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aafa7bb9d28448f280153c0861dc62b6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-aafa7bb9d28448f280153c0861dc62b62025-08-20T02:11:00ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01156291010.3390/app15062910Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality AssessmentCristina Álvarez-Alonso0María Dolores Pérez-Murcia1Encarnación Martínez-Sabater2Ignacio Irigoyen3Joseba Sánchez-Arizmendiarrieta4Ramón Plana5Marga López6Isabel Nogués7María Ángeles Bustamante8Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela (EPSO), Universidad Miguel Hernández, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainCentro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela (EPSO), Universidad Miguel Hernández, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainCentro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela (EPSO), Universidad Miguel Hernández, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainDepartment of Agricultural Production, Public University of Navarre (UPNA-NUP), 31006 Pamplona, SpainFertile Auro Association, 36211 Vigo, SpainOrganic Wastes Management Consultancy, 08027 Barcelona, SpainEscola Superior d’Agricultura de Barcelona (EEABB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Campus del Baix Llobregat, Edifici D4, C. Esteve Terradas, 08860 Castelldefels, SpainResearch Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29,300, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, ItalyCentro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela (EPSO), Universidad Miguel Hernández, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainThe sustainable management of biowaste, mainly food and pruning waste, is currently a challenge due to the increase in its production. The CaMPuSTAJE program, which has been implemented on the campus of the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) since 2019, is an excellent example of how the institution is addressing its strategic interests in sustainable waste management. The principal aim of this program is to manage the biowastes generated by the campus canteens through a simple community composting facility, involving UPNA students and graduates. This program aims to promote experiential learning and applied research in sustainability and circular economy, managing their own waste in a circular and local way. Thus, four composting sets of the CaMPuSTAJE program were evaluated by monitoring the process and the main chemical properties of the composting samples. Also, final composts were fully characterized to ensure the process reproducibility and efficiency and the absence of any hazard in the end-products. The final composts showed a significant agronomic quality, had low content of potentially toxic elements, and were free from phytotoxicity, thus being able to be reintroduced as an organic amendment at the university campus itself.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/2910community compostingbiowastecompost qualitypathogenscircular economycanteen organic waste |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Álvarez-Alonso María Dolores Pérez-Murcia Encarnación Martínez-Sabater Ignacio Irigoyen Joseba Sánchez-Arizmendiarrieta Ramón Plana Marga López Isabel Nogués María Ángeles Bustamante Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality Assessment Applied Sciences community composting biowaste compost quality pathogens circular economy canteen organic waste |
| title | Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality Assessment |
| title_full | Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality Assessment |
| title_short | Integrated Biowaste Management by Composting at a University Campus: Process Monitoring and Quality Assessment |
| title_sort | integrated biowaste management by composting at a university campus process monitoring and quality assessment |
| topic | community composting biowaste compost quality pathogens circular economy canteen organic waste |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/2910 |
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