Quantifying household food waste fractions and prevention potential through multi-seasonal composition analyses of residual municipal solid waste: evidence from six Czech municipalities
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Food waste represents a fundamental sustainability challenge with significant environmental, economic, and social consequences. Although considerable attention is paid to the prevention of food waste, reliable monitoring of actual food waste production remains challenging, particularly at the household level, where a substantial fraction of discarded food is channeled into residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) streams. This study examines RMSW as an empirical indicator of hidden household food waste streams and evaluates its relevance for food waste prevention strategies and the implementation of a circular economy. Detailed composition analyses of RMSW were conducted in six municipalities in the Czech Republic, representing various settlement characteristics. Representative waste samples of 500 kg were manually sorted into 23 material categories with a special focus on biodegradable materials and food waste fractions. Food waste was further classified according to prevention potential into avoidable and unavoidable fractions. To account for biological degradation and water evaporation during containment, an ex-ante moisture loss correction model was established and applied. To evaluate consumer wasting behavior independently of total municipal mass balances, we introduce a Screening Index of Food Waste in Residual Municipal Solid Waste (Iw RMSW ), defined as the ratio of avoidable to unavoidable food waste fractions within the RMSW stream. The results show that RMSW in all examined municipalities remains a vast repository of organic matter, with food waste accounting for up to 33% of household waste. Avoidable fractions constituted a substantial share of the discarded organic matter, accounting for up to 23.41% of the total RMSW mass. The Screening Index of Food Waste in RMSW (Iw RMSW ), was highest for the municipality of Lipno nad Vltavou at 4.35, which operates under a zero-waste fee system. During late summer campaigns, the town of Slaný exhibited an extreme peak in the amount of avoidable food waste of 33.38%, leading to an Iw RMSW of 27.82, signaling severe seasonal failures in food management. The findings of the analyses indicate a substantial prevention potential through behavioral interventions, improved household food management, and targeted municipal programs. The outcomes further demonstrate that existing separate collection systems alone do not fully prevent the disposal of food waste through RMSW. This study highlights the importance of integrating RMSW’s composition analyses into food waste monitoring frameworks. Combining physical waste data with behavioral approaches and circular economy principles can improve the evidence base for food waste prevention policies and support the transition to sustainable food systems. The results provide practical implications for municipalities and policymakers striving to achieve European goals in reducing food waste and improving resource efficiency.
Institution: T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,353
OpenAlex ID: W7225428749