Composting Old Bark and Wood Waste in Cold Weather Conditions

The pulp and paper industry generates large quantities of bark wood waste (BWW), most which is disposed at dumps. There are dozens such dumpsites in Russia, some cause negative environmental impacts due to their proximity bodies water. Unlike fresh BWW, old BWW characterized by significant heterogeneity. Given that stored long-term dumps a water-heavy woody material subjected varying degrees microbiological decomposition, the acceptable method for its disposal composting. This text presents results studies focused on process field composting heaps with natural aeration during cold season region Perm, Russia. Composting was carried out two ways: (1) mineral fertilizers; (2) both fertilizers inoculum. Concurrent composting, laboratory under controlled conditions. At end 60-day ambient temperatures 5 −14 °C, there were decreases values compost mixture: loss ignition (LOI) fell 22%, chemical oxygen demand (COD) 98%, respiratory activity (AT4) 32%. In conditions an temperature 30–35 LOI decreased 24%, COD AT4 39%. introduction inoculum into mixture did not intensify biochemical destruction neither nor