Communities are increasingly interested in removing food waste from the waste stream. Landfills are quickly running out of space and at current rates will be full in less than ten years. Thirty percent of landfill waste is organic matter that could be redirected and composted. Organic matter left to decompose in landfills generates methane gas, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Initiating composting policies presents challenges related to system scale, methods of collection, various composting technologies, cost-effectiveness and other financial considerations.
UT researchers are developing the DSS, which will enable partners, city planners and community leaders to determine best options for identifying and scaling food waste redirection, composting and use of compost using a model that can be easily applied to other cities. To accomplish this, UT researchers are working with partners to initiate a pilot composting facility, collect data and conduct field trial composting to inform DSS and educate the community on composting process and technologies.
The DSS will enable communities to make well-informed decisions that reduce food waste in landfills as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Multi-scale, multi-technology solutions, like DSS, are better able to meet and evolve with urban food systems’ unique challenges.