Zeroing in on food waste : estimating the sources and sinks of putrescible material in Christchurch

Waste production is a significant obstacle on the road to sustainability. Progressing further down that road, will require a greater understanding of the waste stream and of the possibilities for sustainably utilising resources. Accordingly, this report has investigated, one of the largest components of the solid waste steam in Christchurch. It has done so, by identifying and quantifying the sources and sinks putrescible material in Christchurch and by providing the Christchurch City Council (CCC) with options for improving the sustainable use of this resource. Putrescible material is material that is able to decay in such a way as to produce foul, noxious and generally unpleasant emissions. In a landfill putrescible material can contribute greatly to the negative environmental effects associated with the landfill such as leachate, landfill gas, and offensive odours. In addition, it is a major contaminant in the recycling of metal, glass, plastic and paper; and has a great potential to be utilised as a resource if separated at source. This report estimated that businesses and households in Christchurch generate a total of 186,000 tonnes of putrescible material per year, 29,000 tonnes (16%) of which is landfilled, or enters the sewage system. The report identified that the food processing and manufacturing industries were main generators of putrescible material in Christchurch (143,000 tonnes per year) and that nearly all of this material (98%) is utilised in some way, commonly feed to animals or processed further into useful products. Conversely, most of the putrescible material generated from restaurants (9,000 tonnes per year) and domestic sources (18,000 tonnes per year) was sent to landfill.

Grantor dc:publisher

Lincoln University

Year dc:date

2000

Author dc:creator

• Moore, Tony

• food waste
• Christchurch
• putrescible material
• landfill
• waste management
• sustainability
• ANZSRC::050205 Environmental Management
• ANZSRC::1205 Urban and Regional Planning

Statement dc:rights

• Digital thesis can be viewed by current staff and students of Lincoln University only. If you are the author of this item, please contact us if you wish to discuss making the full text publicly available.

Licence

• https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/pages/rights

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

Q112902645

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz:10182/4988