Composting for a More Sustainable Palm Oil Waste Management: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Palm oil production has increased significantly, specifically in Indonesia and Malaysia. However, this growth has raised environmental concerns due to the high discharge of empty fruit bunches, palm oil mill effluents, and other solid wastes. Therefore, this study aims to examine the treatment of palm oil waste by composting and systematically review insights into its application through a systematic literature review approach. Among the 1155 articles, a total of 135 were selected for a systematic review of palm oil waste management developments and their applications, while 14 were used for determining compost quality according to the criteria and requirements established in the systematic literature review. Moreover, using Egger’s test, JAMOVI 1.6.23 software was used to analyze random effects models with 95% confidence intervals and publication bias. The results showed that palm oil waste was optimally treated by composting, which is considered as a sustainable technology for protecting the environment, human safety, and economic value. The in-vessel method with a controlled composting chamber is the best system with a minimum time of 14 days. However, it requires tight control and provides a final product with a high microbial colony form outdoors and indoors compared to the windrow system. This study is useful to see the bias of research results and helps to find new studies that need to be developed, especially in this case related to the management of palm oil waste into organic compost fertilizer and its application methods in the field. It is suggested that applying palm oil waste or compost is mainly performed by mulching. In contrast, new challenges for better processing to produce organic fertilizers and applicable technologies for sustainable waste management are recommended. The method must be affordable, efficient, and practical, combining compost quality with maximum nutrient recovery.

Circular Economy Approaches in the Palm Oil Industry: Enhancing Profitability through Waste Reduction and Product Diversification

“…However, elongation at break decreased with most increased fiber content levels. This balance between tensile strength and morphology, underlined by the SEM findings, emphasizes the critical importance of precise fiber treatments [121,122] and loading levels in developing sustainable bioplastics. Another study developed natural fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites using two different sizes of EFB fibers (605 μm and 633 μm) and acrylic thermoplastic resin.…”

“…Furthermore, EFB fibers are composted into nutrient-rich fertilizers, enhancing sustainable agriculture practices [121,122], and used in the production of green materials and biomaterials [123,124]. The morphology of palm oil flower and fruit fibers was studied using scanning electron microscopy, revealing distinct characteristics (Figure 4(a)-(d)).…”

“…This approach not only addresses waste disposal issues but also adds a renewable energy source to the industry's portfolio. The organic components of POME are also transformed into nutrient-rich organic fertilizers, further contributing to sustainable agricultural practices [122].…”

Peluang Dan Tantangan Pemanfaatan Produk Hayati Di Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit

“…Akan tetapi aplikasi TKS segar akan meningkatkan serangan Oryctes ssp. dibandingkan TKS kompos (Supriatna et al, 2018), sehingga penggunaan kompos dibanding aplikasi TKS langsung dapat berkontribusi untuk mengurangi penggunaan pestisida.…”

A holistic mitigation model for net zero emissions in the palm oil industry

“…The composting treatment of palm oil waste is studied and systematic literature research is conducted to get a thorough understanding of its possible uses [ 15 ]. The findings demonstrated that composting, which is regarded as a sustainable technology for preserving the environment, human safety, and economic value, provided the best treatment for palm oil waste.…”