Microbial indoor air quality associated with homemade composting process

As the amount of household organic waste generated increased significantly in Indonesia, some local governments introduced composting method known as Takakura Home Method to their urban populations. Many previous studies published that elevated bioaerosols were found at the area closed to composting facilities and impacting human health hence the government's decision need to be considered carefully. Based on our experience, a simple laboratory experiment was conducted to assess indoor microbial air quality due to homemade composting process. Samples were collected indoor and outdoor using single stage impactor and then incubated for two days and total colonies of bacteria and fungi were counted conventionally. This study demonstrates that homemade composting increased total indoor bacteria and fungi concentration. Mean concentrations of bacteria and fungi indoor were higher than the background concentrations, exceeding the background concentrations by roughly 1.5-fold. There was significant correlation between elevation of total indoor microbial concentrations and the agitation (such as mixing and turning) activity. The results indicate that total indoor bacteria and fungi concentrations increased after the agitation even at least 4 m from the compost bin.