The Potential Use of Solid Wastes of Paper Factory as Compost, Mushroom Media, and Soilless Media

Abstract

PT Kertas Leces, a paper factory using bagasse as raw material, faces many problems in waste management, especially those of huqe volume and variety in solid wastes. The solid wastes discharged consist of sludge, lime mud, pith, and biosludge. A series of experiments has been conducted to determine possible alternatives for agriculture uses of those wastes based on its respective properties. The experiments included (1) composting of sludge, biosludge, and pith, ( 2 ) constructing media for edible mushroom, and (3) the use of sludge, pith, and biosludge as components of constructed soilless media. the results showed that sludge, P th , and/or biosludqe in respective or combination with certain proportion showed a R romising potential as compost raw materials. A simple technique in composting using cattle dung as decomposer and turning over to provide good aeration has been established. Good quality of compost resulted was confirmed by superior,performance of cocoa seedlings. A mixture of sludge, plth,, and lime mud can be used as media for edibLe mushroom, 1.e. V. volvacea and P . ostreatus. Employing a simple composting technique, those mushrooms grown on the constructed media gived sufficiently high yield. As soillesS media, pith, biosludge, And/or sludqe revealed good physical properties. However, the low nutrient content of these materials need to be overcome by certain amount of fertilizer. The media provided a reliale growing environment for seedlings of selected industrial fores trees, i . e . albizia, mahagoni, and leucaena.