EMISSIONS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-CHEMICALS FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE COMPOSTING FACILITIES

A study of targeted volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from solid waste composting facilities is reported. The study was conducted using portable sampling tubes and thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The data indicate that most VOCs are emitted at early stages of processing. Emissions are concentrated at the tipping floors where the waste is dropped off, at the shredder, and at the initial active composting region where the temperatures rise to normal composting conditions (>55 degrees C). There are indications that ketones may be produced during the composting process. The results show that VOC concentrations remain below workplace permissible exposure limits.