FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF HOPE PARK CAMPUS, LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY, UNITED KINGDOM

Biodegradable organic waste including food waste is the largest kind of municipal solid waste produced in the UK each year. Although there is enormous annual variation in the composition and characteristics depending on the source of waste produced, the portion of biodegradable organic waste including food waste is relatively high in the UK’s waste stream. The vast majority of these food wastes end up in a landfill without any recycling. It was found that a major portion of the UK’s total greenhouse gas (GHGs) emission is sourced in the food supply chain. As part of the targets set in Climate Change Act, 2008 the UK’s HEIs need to play a role in meeting national goals for GHGs emission reduction. The EU Landfill Directive also has a target set for the reduction of biodegradable waste that is landfilled. The reduction of GHGs emissions in the UK’s higher education sector for all carbon emission sectors including the waste management is a necessity rather than a choice. This because government capital allocations for universities are linked to their carbon reduction capability. Because of associated problems with landfilling and increasing public concerns about degradation of environmental quality, recycling of organic waste including food waste to produce bioenergy, fertilizers through composting and/or anaerobic digestion (AD) are becoming more economically viable and are seen as an environment-friendly approach to the challenge of food waste management. The objective of the study was to estimate the amounts and types of food waste generated at Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park campus (UK) and to explore its on-site recycling potential through composting and/or anaerobic digestion. The study was conducted between December 2012 and August 2013. It involved a survey of food waste produced on the Hope Park campus, an assessment of the nature and types of the food waste produced, and a site audit together with a compositional analysis of the mixed food waste. It is estimated that the average annual food waste production at the Hope Park campus, Liverpool Hope University is 89.07 metric tons. Among the types of food waste, vegetables and fruit items were the greatest by weight. Condiments, sauces, herbs, and spices items were found less frequently occurring and also less wasted by weight. Whereas bread, rice, pasta, and bakery products were the most frequently occurring food waste in comparison to meat, fish and dairy. The study concluded that composting was the most suitable option as a method of on-site food waste recycling rather than anaerobic digestion (AD). It was, however, dependent on the amount and nature of the food waste produced. The cost of in-vessel composting in the UK is relatively high in comparison to windrow or open composting. However, it is more favorable because of the efficient control of odor. The composition and types of food waste produced also suggest on-site composting over AD because of the volume of vegetables, fruit and bakery products within the waste stream making it more suitable for composting. However, AD is a preferable option for biodegradable organic waste management from an environmental perspective because of the benefit of carbon savings, but its establishment and operation need expert personnel and there is a higher setup cost. It was estimated that 44.525 metric tons of carbon emission (CO2e) per year could saved by diverting food waste from landfill to on-site recycling through AD and/or composting. Total potential cost savings from diverting waste away from landfill to composting or AD was found to be £997.55 per year at 2013 prices.