Abstract

The residual food waste is one source of greenhouse gas, which results in climate change and directly increases the risk of water-, food-, vector- and rodent-borne diseases. This research aimed to develop an alternative approach for food waste management at Mae Fah Luang University (MFU). The appropriated way was evaluated based on the quantity of generated food waste together with the chemical and physical properties. The amount of food waste was collected from the canteens at MFU and then sampled to analysis. All information was evaluated to propose the proper food waste management method for MFU. The food waste generation at MFU, during academic year 2009-2013, was around 603.72 kg/day. The greenhouse gas emission from this food waste degradation was approximately 12678.015 KgCO₂-eq/day and increasing every year. When using COWTEC®, this generated food waste could be converted to electricity around 10.8 MWh/year with 23104.5 kg/year of fertilizer. Moreover, carbon emission is also reduced around 6058.80 KgCO₂-eq/year. As the economic consideration, the payback period for this investment is around 4 years. Based on economic and environment health considerations, the appropriated way of food waste management at MFU is used as power generation.