Food waste upcycling for a sustainable food waste management in Hong Kong

Abstract

Food waste issue is not only concerned in Hong Kong, but for the worldwide in recent years. Landfilling is the major method treating large amount of food waste by the government in Hong Kong, and only small amount of food waste would be upcycled by the government’s pilot composting plant and the private food waste upcycling companies. This management system on food waste is not sustainable which would lead to different social and environmental problems. Several plans are conducted by the government on dealing with food waste; the most frequently heard project is the project of Organic Waste Treatment Facilities (OWTFs), which is aimed to build five to six OWTFs between 2014 and2024. Besides the government’s efforts on food waste issue, food backs, researches and upcycling food waste by the private parties are observed. Therefore, develop a sustainable food waste management in Hong Kong especially on upcycling would be the best choice to reduce food waste as well as to solve the landfill exhausting problem.

The final aims of this study is to confirm the most suitable sustainable food waste management framework for Hong Kong and to develop a set of recommendations on food waste upcycling for stakeholders involved. This is achieved by reviewing related literature and international best practice; developing an universal sustainable food waste management framework; understanding the current situation in Hong Kong and identifying key issues through literature review and first hand data / information collections.

Online survey and interviews are conducted. 174 people completed the online survey and 29 interviews are conducted on upcycling businesses, catering sectors, actual customers of those upcycling products and NGOs. 6 factors are recognized and discussed under the 4 – steps food waste upcycling process framework, which causing the differences in management options and outcomes: 1. Late starting point; 2. Low variety of food wastes management methods; 3. Concerns; 4. Availability of food waste industry and market; 5.Lack of promotions and 6. Lack of education and resources. “Research and Development on Upcycling Food Waste Fund” is suggested for researching and developing new value –added upcycled products, subsidies and incentives are also suggested to maintain the competitiveness of upcycled products and develop an upcycling market in Hong Kong. Internet promotions and interactions are highly recommended on promotion, consultation and education aspects. The recent campaign –Food Wise Hong Kong is a good example for food waste management and it should be kept and further focused on food donation, and finally to promote food waste separation. The proposed food waste management plans and projects are also reviewed, collecting food waste from catering sector would be a better method at the beginning. Quantity-based charging scheme that charge by rubbish bags is suggested, facilities in the current waste station are needed to improve. An amended food waste management framework for current Hong Kong is constructed at last, hoping that can lead to sustainable development.