Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is the most abundant renewable carbon resource generated from forestry, agricultural and industrial sector accounts to 200 billion tons per annum, where only 3% of LCB are efficiently used in the circular bioeconomy [1], [2], [3], [4]. The heterogeneity and the complex nature might be the major obstacle in surpassing the LCB valorization into biofuels by limiting the conversion efficiency and the techno-economic feasibility. In addition, initially biorefineries are focused only on the valorization of cellulose into a single product (biofuel) by overlooking the hemicellulose and lignin content of LCB [5], [6]. Therefore, the choice of appropriate conversion strategy and integration of the process for complete valorization of biomass into multiple products (i.e., biofuels and value-added chemicals) could aid in intensifying the LCB-based biorefinery. In this regard, microbial valorization of LCB through consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) is being considered as a highly specific, economical and sustainable strategy in biomass-based biorefineries [7]. CBP integrates the conversion process like hydrolytic enzymes production, saccharification and fermentation which provides a cutting-edge option to revolutionize the entire biorefinery framework [8]. In recent times, consolidated bio-saccharification (CBS) integrating the cocktail enzymes (cellulase and hemicellulase) production and saccharification seems to be a promising alternative for the CBP strategy where CBS separates the fermentation from the integrated process. This on-site saccharification approach of combining lignocellulosic enzyme production and hydrolysis enhances the conversion efficiency, simplifies the operation process, thereby reducing the overall capital and operating cost as compared to the conventional off-site strategies such as separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) [3], [9]. Further to maximize the industrial feasibility of CBS, a subtle and energy extensive pretreatment method has to be intended owing to the complexity of lignin that encases the holocellulose (cellulose and hemicellulose) [2]. An efficient pretreatment process should exhibit effective depolymerization of lignin, high polysaccharides recovery, and compatible with the subsequent hydrolysis step without any associated inhibitory by-products [3], [10]. Notably, in several ecological niches such as peat, termite guts, cattle rumens and compost piles which harbor the microbial symbionts have been found to be evolved to tackle the recalcitrance of the LCB for complete degradation. These natural systems could serve as an ideal paradigm for consolidated pretreatment and bio-saccharification by mimicking the innate microbial degradation of LCB in a bioreactor mediated by the enzymes such as ligninases and carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) respectively [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]. Exploration of thermophilic group of microbes in industrial bioprocessing of LCB is proven to be advantageous owing to rapid hydrolysis, enhanced productivity and lower risk of microbial contamination [16], [17]. During composting of organic waste there is a prevalence of different temperature regimes in the pile such as mesophilic (surface) and thermophilic (sub-surface) that harbors a diverse group of microbial symbionts that can be tapped for industrial bio-processing [18]. Further, enrichment of microbial symbionts through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) strategy could aid in establishing a microbial consortium with desired functional characteristics. A considerable adaptation process was generally performed for a definite time period (short-term and long term) to accustom the microbes with various biomolecules of LCB under different conditions [19]. Several studies have reported the isolation and characterization of the cellulolytic bacterial community from compost through conventional techniques [20], [21], [22], [23]. Wang et al. [24] have reported the metagenomic analysis of compost derived microbial consortium enriched with rice straw in a nylon bag which revealed the role of distinct microbial community associated with a repertoire of CAZyme profiles in substrate degradation. However, these studies never explored the efficacy of compost-derived microbial consortium on varied substrates such as woody biomass (high lignin content- 25–30% lignin) and agro-industrial residues (moderate lignin content-15–20%) which can be expected as substrates in an industrial biorefinery scenario [25]. Therefore, the present study focuses on establishing a microbial consortium for consolidating the pretreatment and bio-saccharification of LCB with model substrates such as saw dust (SD) (woody biomass) and aloe vera leaf rind (AVLR) (agro-industrial residue). To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study on microbial community from compost piles with industrial substrates. An ALE strategy was adapted for enriching the microbial community and probing the key players involved in LCB degradation that could pave a way for establishing a consortium-based biomass processing in an integrated biorefinery framework. In addition, the efficacy of compost-derived consortia under different operating temperatures such as mesophilic and thermophilic conditions were also studied to elucidate their influence on lignin degradation and bio-saccharification by probing the modulations in the extracellular enzymes (Lignin peroxidase (LiP), Manganese peroxidase (MnP), laccase and CAZyme) and products (fermentable monomeric sugars) released, as represented in Fig. 1. Overall, this study has explored on feasibility of CBP and development of consortia from compost for LCB based biorefineries.