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Effect of microplastics on greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions during aerobic composting
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Adding polyethylene, PVC, or biodegradable PHA microplastics to composting manure altered greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, with PE and PHA increasing methane and ammonia while PVC reduced them. All three types of microplastics reduced compost quality and nitrogen content, raising concerns about plastic contamination in organic waste recycling.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) microplastics on greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions during 60 days composting. PE, PVC and PHA microplastics were respectively mixed with the cow manure; and a treatment without microplastics was used as the control. Compared to the control, PE and PVC inhibited organic matter degradation. Conversely, PHA accelerated temperature increases and organic matter degradation. Meanwhile, PE and PHA aggravated CH and NH emissions by 7.9-9.1% and 20.9-33.9%, respectively. PVC decreased CH and NH emissions by 6.6% and 30.4%, respectively. Additionally, the NO emissions of the PE and PVC treatments were higher than those of the control while PHA decreased NO emissions by 11.8%. Furthermore, PE, PVC and PHA microplastics reduced the NO-N contents and compost maturity. The results indicated that microplastics reduced compost quality while the effects of microplastics on greenhouse gases and ammonia emissions were related to their sources.
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This study evaluated the effect of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET microplastics on carbon and nitrogen content in vermicompost produced by earthworms. Microplastic addition altered C:N ratios in vermicompost, with effects on soil quality metrics relevant to agricultural use of this organic amendment.
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Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) affect the composting of dairy farm manure, since this manure is often turned into fertilizer for crops. They found that how the composting process is managed, like whether it's covered, matters more than expected in controlling how microplastics disrupt the natural breakdown of nutrients like carbon. This matters because manure fertilizer contaminated with microplastics could eventually affect soil health and the food we grow, so smarter composting methods might help reduce that risk.
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