Phosphorus mass flows and economic benefits of food waste management: the case study of selected retail and wholesale fresh markets in Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the mass flow and the phosphorus flow of food waste in order to propose a viable technique for its recovery from food waste in retail and wholesale fresh markets. These markets are significant food waste sources, including valuable elements such as organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This research provides critical data that can inform and guide the development of sustainable and cost-effective waste management strategies. The results indicate that retail markets generate 13.47 tons/d of food waste, while wholesale markets produce a staggering 192.62 tons/d. For phosphorus flow analysis, the data show that retail markets produce 12.80 kg P/d, while wholesale markets produce 40.79 kg P/d. Uncooked food waste is a major cause of phosphorus loss in retail and wholesale markets. An estimated 3.65 kg P/d is lost from retail and 20.72 kg P/d from wholesale. Separating food waste from general waste and recovering the phosphorus content is essential to reduce P loss. According to this study, separating food waste and selling it as animal feed (Scenario 1) or using it to create organic fertilizer (Scenario 2) are more profitable than the current waste management practice. These options can generate around 180,000 and 960,000 USD/year, respectively. Currently, it is not cost-effective to produce concentrated P fertilizer (scenario 3) due to the high energy and technology required. The study’s results can guide policymakers toward comprehensive food waste management in fresh markets and sustainable phosphorus recovery for food and agricultural production. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)