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Emerging Issues in Food Waste Management: Persistent Chemicals
Citation:
Kenny, S. Emerging Issues in Food Waste Management: Persistent Chemicals. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Synthesize the latest science regarding the contribution of food waste streams to persistent chemical contamination in compost and digestate, relative to other common feedstocks, and the potential health and environmental risks posed by land applying compost and digestate made from food waste.
Description:
Wasted food is a major global environmental, social, and economic challenge. To reduce the environmental impact of food waste, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages composting and anaerobic digestion, among other strategies, in lieu of landfilling and incineration. However, stakeholders have expressed concerns about the levels of persistent chemicals in food waste streams. This paper synthesizes literature on (1) the presence of persistent chemical contaminants in food waste streams and associated compost or digestate, including comparisons to concentrations in other waste streams; (2) the contaminant fate following composting or anaerobic digestion; (3) the effect of these contaminants on the marketability of the compost or digestate produced, and (4) a discussion on data needed to support a robust assessment of the risks associated with land application of compost or digestate produced from food waste. The review identifies food waste streams as a potential contributor of PFAS contamination in composts and digestates; however, food waste streams are likely not a major source of contamination for persistent herbicides. Data on compost made from a variety of mixed feedstocks suggest that PFAS concentrations in food waste compost are lower than those from biosolids compost but higher than those from green waste compost. No data were available on digestate. Complicating the picture is PFAS concentrations in food contact materials, which may migrate into food or be included in food waste streams. For food waste streams containing both food waste and food contact materials, the latter may potentially contribute more to the overall PFAS levels on a per weight basis. Given the very limited information in the literature, it is not possible to determine with confidence the risk to human health or the environment associated with land application of compost or digestate made from food waste. Regardless of the actual levels of PFAS in composts and digestates made from feedstocks containing food waste, consumer concerns about contamination can lead to decreased demand for these composts. As such, there is a need to determine with confidence and communicate broadly the actual exposure levels and risks associated with food waste compost and digestate and to compare these with the risks associated with other options for the management of food waste.
URLs/Downloads:
EMERGING ISSUES IN FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT PERSISTENT CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 3216.976 KB, about PDF)https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-08/emerging-issues-in-food-waste-management-persistent-chemical-contaminants.pdf