The potential environmental risks of the utilization of composts from household food waste

Modern technologies (especially with the help of autonomous measurement and control systems) introduced automatic composters for the disposal of household food waste production. Environmental risks connected with the utilization of these composts can be characterized by the high electrical conductivity caused by a presence of sodium chloride in food. Electrical conductivity influences the ecotoxicity of the composts. The presence of pesticides in composted food also represents an important environmental problem. The following pesticides were found in compost samples from household food waste: 1,3,5-triazine, methyl trithion, bifenthrin, bifenox, carbophenothion, pirimicarb, dioxacarb, desmetryn. Pesticide content in composts varied from 0.3 to 16.3 mu g/kg, the average value being 30.4 +/- 10.1 mu g/kg dry matter. The higher decomposition was found of modern pesticides in the composters. The removal of salts can ensure that inhibition will be < 30% while washing with the ratio of 1:3 will result in the inhibition < 5%. However, this way of processing is not effective for other organisms-Poecilia reticulata(mortality 100%) andDaphnia magna(immobilisation 100%) using this procedure as well as washing of the compost in the ratio 3:1.

Automated summary

Modern technologies have introduced automatic composters for household food waste disposal, but the high electrical conductivity caused by sodium chloride in the composts can lead to environmental risks. Additionally, the presence of pesticides in composted food presents an important environmental problem, with varying pesticide content and the need for effective removal methods to reduce inhibition on organisms like Poecilia reticulata and Daphnia magna.