239580 Conversion of Food Residuals to Organic Fertilizer: A Strategy for Promoting Food Security and Institutional Waste Management in Nigeria

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Oladapo Okareh, PhD, MPH , Division of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,Nigeria., Ibadan, Nigeria
Samuel Oyewole, PhD , John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Food wastes generated from canteens and restaurants in Nigeria have potential to cause public health problems. This paper focused on the management of food waste using composting technology and assesses its quality for possible use to grow crops.

The study was experimental in design. The composting process was aerobic windrow system. In the process, food residuals, poultry litters and dried grass clippings from lawns were mixed in the ratio of 1:1:2 on dry-weight basis to obtain optimal C: N ratio. The compost and leachates were analyzed for Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and selected heavy metals. The compost was used to grow plantain. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Chemical analysis showed that the matured compost consisted of the following: Carbon, 40.0 ± 5.51%; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, 3.56 ± 5.65%; Total phosphorus, 1.12 ± 5.53% and Potassium, 2. 03 ± 12.87%. The leachates contained: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, 138.8 ± 3.45mg/l; Chemical Oxygen Demand, 240.5 ± 5.64 mg/l; Turbidity, 3.22 ± 14.72 mg/l; Dissolved Oxygen, 5.6 ± 21.43 mg/l and Iron, 1.39 ± 3.67mg/l. The heavy metals (in mg/kg) included Lead (14.0 ± 1.32), Chromium (1.6 ± 7.12) and Cadmium (1.1 ± 4.52). The plantain growth and yield indicators showed significant differences when compared with the control.

The production of Nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer from food residuals for growing plantain is an effective resource recovery strategy. Advocacy is needed to promote the adoption of this technology among proprietors of various food generating institutions to promote food security in communities.

Key words:Food wastes, Composting, leachate, windrow system, organic fertilizer.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Basic medical science applied in public health
Environmental health sciences
Epidemiology
Occupational health and safety
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
The broad objective of the study was to demonstrate the management of food waste using composting technology and to assesses its quality for possible use to grow indigenous crops.

Keywords: Environment, Food Security

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualify to present because I ovesee programs such as waste management and health,Environmental impact assessment and environment and food security research group in my institution.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: *Poster Session*: Topics in environmental health
See more of: Environment