Abstract
In this paper, the current status, problems, and prospects are discussed regarding the production of organic fertilizers (compost) from food waste derived from municipal and industrial solid waste. The annual amount of food waste in municipal solid waste is estimated at 10 million tons or more and it is almost totally incinerated in Japan except for compost production at 81 facilities in 2019. Approximately 30% (5 million tons) of food waste in industrial waste is not being used as resources. Small-scale household compost production from kitchen garbage is performed by using plastic containers called ‘composters’, along with box composting and electric garbage treatment apparatuses, which are recommended by many municipalities for reducing waste discharge. Large-scale machines for treating garbage are widely used in hotels, company cafeterias, hospitals, etc. Over 60 municipalities and organizations are involved in compost production from municipal and industrial food waste in Japan. Problems associated with the lack of quality standard of compost in Japan and the promotion of compost production from unutilized food waste are discussed.
