Abstract:
Pulp and paper sludge management by dumping pollutes the environment. Composting those
sludge will reduce the volume in landfills. This study aims to compare the quality of compost from
both pulp and paper's sludge by using a biodecomposer combination of P. citrinum and P.
oxalicum. The pulp sludge was obtained from pulp company in North Sumatra and pulp and paper
sludge was from pulp and paper's company in Riau Province. Before composting, those sludge
were dried under the sun, until the water content reached 60-70%. Biodecomposer consists of P.
citrinum and P. oxalicum was isolated from the previous study. The composting was held by added
30 ml sterile water contains isolates spores with a density of 107 (spores/ml) to 3 kg sludge. After
incubated for a month, laboratory analysis was carried out to measure macro, micro and heavy
metals content of the sludge. Compost of pulp and paper's sludge was better in providing macro
and micronutrients than of the pulp sludge. However, the heavy metals content (Pb and Cd) of the
pulp compost were lower than of the pulp and paper compost.
