ENIVRONMENT ASIA

Volume 14, No. 01, Month JANUARY, Year 2021, Pages 52 - 62

Phosphorus mass flows: a planning tool for food waste management in pathumthani province, thailand

Manaporn Wongsoonthornchai and Bussarakam Thitanuwat

Abstract Download PDF

Phosphorus (P) shortage has direct impact on Thailand’s food security. Strategy focusing on increased resource effi ciency and reduced P losses is becoming a challenge. P mass fl ows through food consumption system was performed in Pathumthani city. The purposes of this study are (1) to develop a P balance model using mass balance approach as a tool and (2) to identify and quantify the potential source for P recovery and recycle. Results of P balance showed that P of approximately 1,856 tons were entered to Pathumthani via food consumption system with 85% collection effi ciency. Due to the insuffi cient wastes sorting, only 10% of P contained in food waste (FW) was utilized at composting center. The remaining P, amounted to 1,217 tons, was entirely ended up in landfi ll. This led to a clear conclusion that current FW practice is reducing the ability to recover P from waste since most of P was deposited in landfi ll. Therefore, recycling FW as well as P into a value-added product i.e. soil conditioner via composting process, the simplest alternative method for FW management, was recommended for this study. In addition, environmental and fi nancial benefi ts gained from FW composting scenario were estimated. Recovery of about 1,217 tons per year into soil conditioning material, landfi ll emission reduction of 105 thousand tons carbon dioxide equivalent per year along with disposal cost saving of 6 million baht per year can be potentially achieved if FW was preliminary sorted at home.

Keywords

Phosphorus; Food waste; Mass balance; Waste management; Waste recycling

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