Circular food waste management in Türkiye to stay within planetary boundaries

Abstract

Today 1/3 of the food is wasted and almost 10% of the world is hungry. The agricultural sector generates 62.2 million food waste, while households generate 17.7 million and farms generate 198.9 million in Türkiye. The objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental impacts and circularity of various food waste management scenarios in Türkiye, and to compare the results with planetary boundaries (PBs). Four scenarios were created, which included anaerobic digestion, composting, incineration, and landfill. The circularity of the food waste was identified by the distribution of nutrients (N,P) back into the soil during land application. To identify and compare environmental impacts, the LCIA- based PBs methodology was used. The results reveal that the PB limits for circularity can be met with the nutrients found in household food waste in all four scenarios. However, waste from agriculture and farms can only meet the PB limits with an anaerobic digestion and composting. The environmental impact category results for food waste management scenarios were within the PBs limits. To maintain planetary boundaries with a circular food waste management in Turkiye AD is the most preferred option. In future studies, it is important to consider how diet change and technology in the supply chain affect PBs.