Dehydration of Domestic Food Waste at Source as an Alternative Approach for Food Waste Management

Abstract

This paper introduces a new approach for domestic food waste management and pretreatment through the dehydration of food waste separated at source. An innovative domestic waste dryer was used in order to carry out the research performed. This work presents the methodology and the results of the first pilot scale demonstration of a new technique for the separation and dehydration of food waste separated at source. The system was installed in 25 selected households in Papagos-Cholargos Municipality in Athens, Greece, and operated on a daily basis for a total period of 8 months. The hygienic dehydration of food waste at source resulted to its significant mass reduction, about 70 % w/w, due to the removal of its moisture content during the drying process, while the energy requirements are sustained at economically viable levels. The low water content of the produced biomass prevents the biological decomposition, restricts odor emissions, and thus reduces the frequency at which domestic waste needs to be collected. Additionally, the dried biomass can be handled much easier compared to wet food waste. Also, the examined physicochemical characteristics of the dried waste show that it has the potential to be used in alternative and environmental friendly ways to produce high value-added products such as bioethanol, biogas, thermal energy, and compost.