The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been used widely to solve multi-criteria selection problem. It is a technique that allows the decision makers to set their priorities and help make the best selection when both tangible and intangible aspects need to be considered. This study uses the AHP to select the best composting technology for the UKM composting centre where the accumulation of organic wastes are generated daily from the cafeteria and landscape activities within the UKM campus. Experts who are familiar and who have some years of experience on solid waste management at UKM were interviewed to do the pair wise comparisons which are structured with four criteria namely environmental, economy, social and technical aspects. These criteria then expanded into a few more sub-criteria. The alternatives for the composting technology are windrow composting and in-vessel composting. The analysis is done using the Super Decisions software. The result shows that technical factor is the most important factor with (0.5000), followed by environmental (0.2517), economy (0.1941) and social (0.0542) factors. The end result shows that windrow composting is the best composting technology according to these four factors with the priority of 0.6236 while composting in—vessel has the priority of 0.3765.

Composting is one of the alternatives that can be used in waste management to control the increment of waste generation including that is in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). However, a conventional composting is rarely applied due to the longer time consumed to reach maturity phase. This research is focus on the use of effective microbes (EM) that will accelerate the composting process hence composting can be an alternative to treat the problem of organic waste in UKM.This research which took 7 weeks of completion is intend on finding the best EM that can be used to accelerate the composting process. Two types of organic waste are being used in this composting process which is yard waste and food waste. Two EM are applied in this research which is Takakura EM and Fruit Waste EM. The parameters which include temperature, moisture content, pH value, C:N ratio, NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) value and heavy metals concentrationhave been examined. The composting methods applied in this research are composter barrel and rotary drum. Based on the result of observations and experiments after 7 weeks, all pH values for the composts are approximately at neutral value (7.0-8.0) showing that the compost has approached mature phase. For C:N ratio, all of the compost has reached a value of less than 20:1 which is suitable to be used for agriculture. NPK content for potassium is from 0.073 to 0.133 and for phosphorus is from 0.049 to 0.512. For heavy metals, all compost has low levels of heavy metals where it is safe to use for agricultural. Thus, it is concluded that the quality of compost for this research is good and EM Takakura is said to be the suitable solution in decreasing the time taken for composting.

The composting of organic waste is an alternative waste management technique that can be used to control the increase in waste generation. The objective of this study was to identify a type of effective microbes (EMs) that accelerate the composting process. The study also determined the suitability of using a KompostKu rotary composter along with additional materials such as coconut husks and Takakura EMs for composting food waste from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and determines the economic value of the compost. In order to select the most efficient EMs, Takakura and fruit waste EMs were prepared and used during the composting of both food and yard waste using a composter barrel. Four important parameters were examined to ensure the effectiveness of the process, including temperature, moisture content, potential of hydrogen (pH), and carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The experimental results revealed that Takakura EMs were superior to the fruit waste EMs in accelerating the composting process. The use of coconut husks as an absorbing agent with Takakura EMs also accelerated the composting process, requiring approximately four weeks to fully decompose the food waste. It was estimated that the composting of food and landscape waste at the UKM could annually generate compost products worth over 30,660 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). The use of Takakura EMs enhanced and accelerated the composting process and provided high-quality compost

Composting has been occurring naturally with the decomposition of organic matter by microorganism and is the best technique in yard waste management to produce landscape fertilizer. This article discusses the management of yard waste in UKM and determines the feasibility of using windrow composting for mixed yard and food wastes. The amount of yard waste generated in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) approximately is 2.36 tonne/day. An estimated the total of 3.36 tonne of yard and food waste is generated per day at UKM, which would require 8 rows of 42-meter long windrows. The contents of the windrows are periodically turned (mixed) to ensure homogeneity, increase porosity and to assist aeration. This study complements the concept of the UKM Zero Waste Campus by producing a valuable material from waste.