Food Waste Bioeconomy: Sustainable Waste Management Options for Hawassa University Campuses, Ethiopia

Abstract

Food waste management is a challenge in University Campuses of developing countries. This study assessed food waste management challenges in Hawassa University and the possibility of cascading the waste through biomass bioeconomy model by using interviews, observations and published and unpublished documents. The results show that so far the food leftover is being used by poor people, collected by animal ranchers or damped in  an openpit. Food leftover use by poor people was challenged due to poor hygienic quality, health implication to users, insecurity to campus community and theft of property in the campuses. The university’s animal enterprise was also forced to quiet its agreement with the university due people’s competition for the leftover. Generally food waste management at the University is reactive and long-term sustainability is needed. This study suggests the cascading use of biomass, i.e. using food waste as animal feed; animal waste as feedstock for biogas generation; biogas-slurry
as an organic fertilizer for university farm and plantations. If implemented the model improves the waste management practices of the University; improves the resource use efficiency and energy security, and reduces fuel wood consumption and mitigate greenhouse gas emission. Moreover the model creates circular economy that serves as a sustainability showcase in practice for research, training, recreation, experience sharing and income generation activities.

Keywords: Bio-economy, food waste, Hawassa University, sustainability