Among the 3600 tonnes of food waste generated daily, domestic
households give rise to about 2500 tonnes, while around 1100 tonnes
come from food associated with commercial and industrial
(C&I) sources (HKEB, 2014). Assuming that the food waste collection
rates of domestic household and C&I sectors are 50% in the
future, the total food waste collection rate in Hong Kong is about
1800 tonnes per day (tpd). This amount renders a massive challenge
to society if the collected food waste is not recycled and valorized
to a value-added product, as far as possible. A systematic
food waste separation and collection system, together with
environmentally friendly food waste valorization technologies is,
therefore, imperative in order to form a sustainable food waste
management framework in Hong Kong.
In light of this need, a sustainable framework of food waste collection
and recycling for valorizing the food waste to renewable
biogas fuel is proposed in this study. The proposed framework is
established in consideration of the food waste collection and recycling
systems in certain cities such as Oslo in Norway, Linköping in
Sweden, and Lille in France, as well as with reference to the food
waste management environment and community needs in Hong
Kong. The proposed framework of the food waste collection and
recycling for the food waste valorization in Hong Kong is shown
in Fig. 1, and consists of three parts: (i) food waste separation at
source and collection; (ii) food waste valorization to value-added
products; and (iii) other MSW treatment. It is hoped that the proposed
framework can also act as a reference for other urban cities
that face a food waste disposal dilemma similar to Hong Kong’s
environmental conditions.