Review on Recycling of Food Waste to Produce Plant Fertilizers

Abstract

Sustainable waste management and agriculture are discussed in the perspective of food waste recycling into plant nutrients. The environmental, social, and economic effects of food waste are discussed in this review to highlight their global significance. Methods for turning food scraps into plant nutrients are compared and contrasted, with each approach's benefits and drawbacks highlighted. The staggering annual amounts of food wasted highlight the critical need for a comprehensive response to this problem. Putting food scraps to use as plant fertilizer is an eco-friendly option that follows the principles of the circular economy by reusing otherwise useless materials. Composting, anaerobic digestion, and vermicomposting are examined as three basic strategies for recycling food waste; each approach has its own benefits and flexibility. Anaerobic digestion, for instance, is well-suited to handling large quantities of organic waste, while composting is more suited to urban and domestic settings. It has been demonstrated that fertilizers made from food waste improve soil quality, stimulate plant growth, and add to overall agricultural output. Without the use of synthetic chemicals, these fertilizers increase soil structure, water retention, and plant nourishment. Furthermore, recycling helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, which is an important factor in slowing global warming. However, obstacles such as contamination worries, regulatory frameworks, public awareness, and technological developments stand in the way of widespread implementation of food waste recycling. The quality of the fertilizers that can be made from food waste relies heavily on the efficacy of collection and sorting processes. Guaranteeing the safety and efficacy of these items relies heavily on the establishment of regulatory standards and quality controls. Increasing public knowledge and understanding is critical if we are to see a shift in how people typically approach the recycling of food scraps.