34
L. S. Franca et al.
181,586.32 kg of biosolid and 38,549.26 m
3 of biogas production, which are valuable
products that can be used as a resource for supply wholesalers and retailers activities
demands and on agriculture production.
Keywords Food waste management · OFMSW · Carbon foot print · Anaerobic
digestion · Biogas · Renewable energy
1 Introduction
The worldwide growth of municipal solid waste (MSW) is estimated to be around
2 billion tons per year, according to UNEP and ISWA [41] and its composition
depends on the geographic region, economic activities, climate and social condition,
living standards and eating habits of the population and waste management strategies
[32]. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) comprises a larger
percentage 50 to 70% of the MSW in low-income countries, while in high-income
countries they typically account for 20 to 40% of the MSW [41]. The OFMSW is
generated by different sources in urban areas, such as food supply centers, supermarkets, restaurants, household kitchen, yard trimming, among others. Because of
these characteristics, which varies regionally and nationally [5], the management and
treatment of OFMSW become a big challenge.
The negative effects of inadequate solid waste management to the environment are
known and disseminated all over the world, especially regarding the waste final destination [29, 41]. Uncontrolled diffuse methane emissions and leachate production are
some of the main problems arising from organic waste landfill [42]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from the waste management sector represent about 3% of global emissions
[41]. However, that estimative is limited to the last stage of the waste management
chain, related to final disposal of the waste. Therefore, it does not include transport
and logistics emissions, nor the total amount of GHG emitted during the entire life
cycle of food products, from their production to consumption, taking into account
the use of energy, water and land they have demanded during lifetime. Recent studies
have stated that if food wastage were a country, it would be the third largest GHG
emitting country in the world [20]. The total carbon footprint of food produced and
not consumed is estimated at 3.3 Gt CO 2 e, without accounting for GHG emissions
from land use change [20].
In addition to the GHG emission problems inherent in waste landfilling, new sites
for implementing landfills are becoming increasingly scarce in urban areas, so this
waste final disposal practice is now facing a great challenge in the cities. In this
scenario, technologies for the OFMSW treatment and resource recovery are needed
to ensure the sustainability and resilience of cities. The composting process is an
alternative; however, it also requires a considerable area for treatment, while energy
consumption for controlled aeration is intense. Thermal incineration, which can
L. S. Franca et al.
181,586.32 kg of biosolid and 38,549.26 m
3 of biogas production, which are valuable
products that can be used as a resource for supply wholesalers and retailers activities
demands and on agriculture production.
Keywords Food waste management · OFMSW · Carbon foot print · Anaerobic
digestion · Biogas · Renewable energy
1 Introduction
The worldwide growth of municipal solid waste (MSW) is estimated to be around
2 billion tons per year, according to UNEP and ISWA [41] and its composition
depends on the geographic region, economic activities, climate and social condition,
living standards and eating habits of the population and waste management strategies
[32]. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) comprises a larger
percentage 50 to 70% of the MSW in low-income countries, while in high-income
countries they typically account for 20 to 40% of the MSW [41]. The OFMSW is
generated by different sources in urban areas, such as food supply centers, supermarkets, restaurants, household kitchen, yard trimming, among others. Because of
these characteristics, which varies regionally and nationally [5], the management and
treatment of OFMSW become a big challenge.
The negative effects of inadequate solid waste management to the environment are
known and disseminated all over the world, especially regarding the waste final destination [29, 41]. Uncontrolled diffuse methane emissions and leachate production are
some of the main problems arising from organic waste landfill [42]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from the waste management sector represent about 3% of global emissions
[41]. However, that estimative is limited to the last stage of the waste management
chain, related to final disposal of the waste. Therefore, it does not include transport
and logistics emissions, nor the total amount of GHG emitted during the entire life
cycle of food products, from their production to consumption, taking into account
the use of energy, water and land they have demanded during lifetime. Recent studies
have stated that if food wastage were a country, it would be the third largest GHG
emitting country in the world [20]. The total carbon footprint of food produced and
not consumed is estimated at 3.3 Gt CO 2 e, without accounting for GHG emissions
from land use change [20].
In addition to the GHG emission problems inherent in waste landfilling, new sites
for implementing landfills are becoming increasingly scarce in urban areas, so this
waste final disposal practice is now facing a great challenge in the cities. In this
scenario, technologies for the OFMSW treatment and resource recovery are needed
to ensure the sustainability and resilience of cities. The composting process is an
alternative; however, it also requires a considerable area for treatment, while energy
consumption for controlled aeration is intense. Thermal incineration, which can