Physico-chemical characterisation of domestic compost from s. Ilario d’Enza area (Reggio Emilia province, Italy), in order to optimize its exploitation as soil fertiliser

Within the framework of the new action “fai più bella S. Ilario” a collaboration among the S. Ilario Municipality, the ENIA S.p.A. and the University of Parma allowed to carry on a study on the quality of homemade compost. The project aimed at promoting the production and utilisation of domestic compost by citizens providing them compost bins. Surveys monitored the public acceptance and followed up the results of the household composting activities. Chemical and physical analyses were also performed on samples of home-made compost for quality assessment. Total Nitrogen, organic carbon, Ph, humidity, and heavy metals concentrations were measured; metals of environmental concern (Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cr, Cu) were estimated and the concentration values for each metal were below the thresholds establishes by the legislation on compost quality, 784/84. Moreover, statistic analyses were applied to evidence significative differences between the set of samples from households nearby main thoroughfares and the set from isolated buildings: no significative difference was highlighted.