Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: About a third of the food produced annually is wasted. Food waste recycling can be a way to close the loop and attain a more sustainable food system, however, the system must be carefully monitored and managed to avoid the introduction and build-up of contaminants. To study the potential presence of contaminants in food waste, source-separated food waste was collected and screened for five classes of contaminants (physical contaminants, heavy metals, halogenated organic contaminants, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes) from two separate regulatory environments (voluntary vs mandated food separation). The regulatory environment did not affect the level of contamination, except there was more physical contamination in Maine, where food waste diversion is not mandated. Fifty-seven percent of samples had some form of non-compostable waste. Most of the heavy metals tested were not detected. Copper and zinc were detected in most samples but were always below the most stringent global standards for compost. Some samples had detectable halogenated organics, which is cause for concern because some are known to accumulate in the food chain. Foodborne pathogens were seldom detected and should be killed during treatment, but this could pose a risk to collectors and haulers. Antibiotic resistance genes were detected in most samples. This could jeopardize the utility of antibiotics used to fight infections. More research is needed to determine the fate of antibiotic resistance genes and halogenated organics during treatment, and the risk of their accumulation in a circular food system.
Author: Thakali, Astha
Institution: University of Maine
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6990504934