Key personnel: Dr. C.H.W.M.R. Bhagya Chandrasekara

Isolation of local microbial consortia for efficient garbage recycling

The idea is to identify microbes and the population dynamics at different stages of composting (from fast degrading locations) to identify a consortium/consortia suitable for composting process. Several enrichment steps will also be followed and samples will be sequenced at each stage. We have to produce a suitable consortium/consortia.  All previous studies done in Sri Lanka have utilized traditional microbial techniques - isolation and purification of one or organisms and testing them (some studies have taken more than 15 years).  In our project we have proposed a non-culture-based method - totally depends on sequencing and bioinformatics. 

Specific objectives

1. To identify naturallymfast degrading waste dumping and composting sites and different microbial communities associated with decomposing waste in such sites located in different regions of SriLanka

2. Selective enrichment of communities for efficient degradation process.