Decentralized Processing Performance of Fruit and Vegetable Waste Discarded from Retail, Using an Automated Thermophilic Composting Technology

Florin Nenciu, Iustina Stanciulescu, Horia Vlad, Andrei Gabur, Ovidiu Leonard Turcu, Tiberiu Apostol, Valentin Nicolae Vladut, Diana Mariana Cocarta and Constantin Stan
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Florin Nenciu: National Institute of Research—Development for Machines and Installations Designed for Agriculture and Food Industry—INMA Bucharest, 013811 Bucharest, Romania
Iustina Stanciulescu: Electronic Waste Management SRL, 137370 Potlogi, Romania
Horia Vlad: Electronic Waste Management SRL, 137370 Potlogi, Romania
Andrei Gabur: Electronic Waste Management SRL, 137370 Potlogi, Romania
Ovidiu Leonard Turcu: Faculty of Economic Sciences, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, 600115 Bacău, Romania
Tiberiu Apostol: Faculty of Energy Engineering, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Valentin Nicolae Vladut: National Institute of Research—Development for Machines and Installations Designed for Agriculture and Food Industry—INMA Bucharest, 013811 Bucharest, Romania
Diana Mariana Cocarta: Faculty of Energy Engineering, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Constantin Stan: Faculty of Energy Engineering, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: Food waste generation is increasing at an exponential rate, affecting the environment, food security, and causing major economic issues worldwide. The main aim of the current research is to investigate a novel composting technology that is still in its early stages of development. The proposed composting technology combining thermophilic composting with the use of advanced automated processing reactors. Starting from a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the waste generated at retail-stores, the most significant difficulties associated to waste management as well as the main characteristics of the discarded waste were identified. The findings allowed to design and evaluate the real operating performance of an automated thermophilic composting prototype (working in a decentralized regime), with the goal of delivering a faster processing system, improving operational efficiency, reducing expenses, and lowering environmental impacts. The proposed operating technique showed a high capacity for pathogens and seeds removal, the waste input mass reduction of 88%, and efficiency in food processing (2235 kg of fruits and vegetables in a 14-days timeframe).

Keywords: food waste; composting system; organic waste management; decentralized composting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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