Design and Experimentation of a Sustainable Solar Organic Waste Convertor (SOWaC)

Abstract

Municipal Solid waste generation in metropolitan cities is rising daily due to population growth. On average, a family generates about 1.5 kilograms of waste per day, with organic waste accounting for one-third of this amount. If this organic waste is handled at the source, it will ease the load on the current solid waste management systems. Considering this critical problem of organic waste disposal, a pioneering machine was meticulously designed to treat the organic waste at itssource. The machine SOWaC (Solar Organic Waste Convertor) is completely automated and converts organic waste into soil additives using bioenzymes. With a primary focus on sustainability, SOWaC is powered by solar energy. This revolutionary machine incorporates an agitator attached to a mixing container, an inlet and outlet, and a temperature sensor among its key components. The capacity of the machine is 20 kilograms. The time required for decomposition is 15-18 days with a volume reduction of 85-90%. The soil additive obtained is dark brown, with a soft, moist consistency and odorless. After processing, the obtained soil additive was analyzed for its physico-chemical parameters. The results obtained demonstrated the effectiveness of this technology in producing valuable organic soil amendments. This machine is suitable for housing societies as well as individual houses.

Introduction

Managing municipal solid waste in metropolitan cities is challenging due to large populations and high waste volumes, especially organic waste which forms 40-60% of Indian urban waste. Proper waste management—covering segregation, collection, treatment, and processing—is crucial for health and sustainability. Organic waste disposal faces hurdles like limited infrastructure, land scarcity, and methane emissions.

Various organic waste treatment methods include:

• Composting: Natural decomposition into nutrient-rich compost, either centralized (windrow) or decentralized (bin composting), but affected by contamination and space issues.

• Vermicomposting: Uses earthworms to produce high-quality compost, but is slower and sensitive to conditions.

• Windrow Composting: Large-scale aerobic piles requiring aeration.

• Bokashi Composting: Fermentation using microorganisms, suitable for households and agriculture.

• Anaerobic Digestion: Produces biogas and nutrient slurry without oxygen.

• Waste to Energy: Converts organic waste into renewable energy.

Decentralized or at-source treatment is preferable for sustainability in urban India.

Core Aim:
Develop an innovative, solar-powered, at-source organic waste processing system to reduce landfill pressure, cut greenhouse gases, and promote resource recovery.

Solar Organic Waste Convertor (SOWaC):
A compact, solar-powered machine using bio-enzymes to decompose up to 20 kg of organic waste, reducing volume by 85-90% in 15-18 days. It features aeration, temperature control, moisture management, and automated operation.

Experiments and Results:
Three experiments using different inoculants showed varying degradation times (18 to 90 days). Physico-chemical analysis of the resulting soil additives found:

• All samples had suitable color, odor, pH, and C:N ratio for soil enhancement.

• Sample C (using citrus peel bio-enzyme) had the highest organic carbon and nutrient content, making it the best for soil fertility.

• Samples A and B had lower nutrient levels and higher electrical conductivity in A, indicating variability in compost quality depending on inoculant used.

Conclusion

The results of the Physico-chemical analysis of the soil additive samples obtained from the Solar Organic Waste Converter (SOWaC) demonstrate the effectiveness of this technology in producing valuable organic soil amendments. The data highlights the ability of the convertor to transform the organic waste into nutrient rich dark brown to black soil additives with favourable pH levels, high organic carbon content, and abundant available nutrients. This highlights the potential of Solar Organic Waste Convertors as sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for converting organic waste into valuable resources for landscaping, agriculture and horticulture in urban areas. The issue of land requirement is also solved as the machine is compact and is solar powered. SOWaC is suitable for at-source treatment of Organic Waste hence, it can be implemented in housing societies and residential communities.

References

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Copyright © 2025 Ms. Jui Pandharipande. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.