Effect of inoculation methods on the composting efficiency of municipal solid wastes

► Four kinds of inoculation methods were applied during solid waste composting. ► Inoculation enhanced the degradation of aliphatics, proteins, and polysaccharides. ► Inoculation increased the molecular weight and humification degree of the composts. ► The inoculation microbes significantly improved composting progress and efficiency. ► Multi-stage inoculation best enhanced composting progress and efficiency.