Keng, Zi Xiang and Chong, Siewhui and Ng, Chee Guan and Ridzuan, Nur Izzati and Hanson, Svenja and Pan, Guan-Ting and Lau, Phei Li and Supramaniam, Christina Vimala and Singh, Ajit and Chin, Chiew Foan and Lam, Hon Loong (2020) Community-scale composting for food waste: A life-cycle assessment-supported case study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 261. ISSN 0959-6526, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121220.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Community-scale composting, which can be conducted by the local council or a waste management company, is an effective starting point to divert food waste from landfill, especially for developing countries. This paper successfully demonstrates the feasibility of a community-scale food waste composting system, using the University of Nottingham Malaysia as the case study. The method selected is open-air static pile, using food waste as the substrate and leaf-litter as the bulking agent. The composting model presented in this study is also applicable to other organic wastes. The two feedstocks are mixed at a food waste-to-leaves weight ratio of 4: 1 to result in an initial moisture level of 63% and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 27. The composting process can be completed in 7 months, yielding about 30 wt % (on dry basis) of compost from the total organic feedstock. The finished compost is shown to meet Malaysia's organic fertiliser standard, thus demonstrating the feasibility of this low-cost technology. Economic analysis showed that substituting chemical fertilisers with the organic compost produced inhouse is a viable option, and that for Malaysia, the composting system would be able to self-sustain financially only when the landfllling cost is increased 2.3 times. The life-cycle assessment showed that using composting to replace landfill for food waste, as well as substituting chemical fertilisers with the organic compost produced, can greatly reduce the environmental impacts, especially on global warming, ecotoxicity, eutrophication and fossil fuel depletion. In order to promote the widespread application of composting for organic wastes, multi-actor partnerships are essential to link governments, organisations and households in working toward a circular economy. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | University of Nottingham Cascade, Universiti Malaya [Grant No: RP029-18SUS, TU001-2018] |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Organic waste; Food waste; Composting; Life cycle; Circular economy; Feasibility |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences |
| Divisions: | Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Ms Zaharah Ramly |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Oct 2024 02:03 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Oct 2024 02:03 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/36553 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
