What is food waste? What are the main dangers?

First of all, let’s be clear: food waste and kitchen waste are not the same kind of waste. Garbage can be divided into five categories: domestic waste, kitchen waste, fruit and vegetable waste, garden waste and bulky waste. Domestic waste can be divided into hazardous waste, recyclables, other waste and kitchen waste. The characteristics of each type of waste are: Sources and processing methods vary, see Figure 1 for details.

Figure 1 Classification and processing of garbage

Kitchen waste is a type of garbage, mainly used by related enterprises and public institutions in food processing, catering services, and unit meals. The food residues, food processing waste and waste gas edible oils generated in other activities are characterized by large output, relatively concentrated quantity but wide distribution; kitchen waste is a type of domestic waste, also known as wet waste, perishable waste, etc. Garbage is mainly leftovers, melon and fruit peels, carrion and bones, and discarded food produced in daily life in households and farmers’ markets. It is large in quantity but relatively scattered, highly perishable, and emits a foul odor.

The hazards of food waste are as follows:

1. If relevant departments relax their management, food safety accidents may easily occur. The gutter oil and spit oil we often mention are actually a type of food waste. When food waste is not disposed of in a timely and standardized manner, it is easy for unscrupulous traders to take advantage of it and steal the gutter oil in the food waste for profit.

2. The amount of food waste is huge and relatively concentrated. If not processed in time, it not only emits a foul odor, but also attracts mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats, etc., which can easily lead to the spread of diseases and have a serious impact on the health and normal life of nearby residents. Big impact.

3. Food waste has a high grease content and is perishable. If not treated in time, it will easily produce a large amount of toxic and harmful leachate and organic matter, destroying local soil and even groundwater, and seriously harming the surrounding ecological environment.