• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.162-168
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• 2016

The aim was to investigate the effect of reducing the odorous and complex odor released during the decomposition of food wastes using effective microorganism (EM) as a function of time at $20^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. The variation of total microbial counts and dominant species counts in EM and leachate produced during food wastes decomposition was also observed. In general, the cumulative concentration of sulfur compounds ($H_2S$, $CH_3SH$) and complex odor released during food wastes decomposition increased with increasing elapsed time. The nitrogen compounds ($NH_3$, trimethyl amine), however, was not observed in all samples. The addition of EM in food wastes resulted in the reduction of concentration of sulfur compounds and complex odor, in spite of the increase of $CH_3CHO$ concentration. The dominant microbial species detected in EM were Lactobacillus species(Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus casei). In the leachate produced during food wastes decomposition, however, the various microbial community alternative to that detected in EM was observed. The EM could be potentially useful as a tools for reducing odor induced from the food waste decomposition process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.303-310
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• 2014

This study investigated the reduction of food waste through the slurry phase decomposition in a source of food waste by microorganisms. The reactor used in the experiment was composed of both woodchip with wood material and sponges with polyurethane material as media of attached microorganisms, and food waste was mixed with a constant cycle consisted of a stirring device. During the experimental period of 100 days, the change in weight over the cumulative total amount of food waste added was reduced by 99%. Approximately, 1% of the residual food waste could be inherently recalcitrant materials (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, etc.) and thus was thought to be the result of the accumulation. The initial pH in wastewater generated from food waste was low with 3.3 and after 24 hours treatment this pH was increased to 5.8. The concentrations of COD, BOD, SS, salinity, TN and TP were gradually decreased. Food waste decay was proceeded by the seven species microorganisms identified and confirmed in this study, making a slurry phase and thus reducing residual food wastes. In the initial phase, the microbial population was approximately $3.3{\times}10^4$ cell/mL, and after 15 days this population was a constant with $5.1{\times}10^6$ cell/mL which means a certain stabilization for the reduction of food wastes. From these results, it can be considered that organic matter decomposition as well as the weight loss of food wastes by microorganisms is done at the same time.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 1994

This is a study on plate waste, management of the facilities and utensil, and for their hygenic management through the survey conducted at 106 enterprise located in Seoul institutional foodservice. Which were evenly divided into two groups; the white color and the blue color. The results are below: 1. Volume of food and menu were set in advance with no free choice. A campaign was launched to reduce food wastes. It was shown that free choice feeding was better in wastes reduction than none free choice feeding. 2. Hygenic management was relatively good in two groups. Machine and utensil usually sterilized by heating or disinfectant sterilization was performed at every using time or one time a day, but with no differentiation between two groups.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2001

Mass reduction and physicochemical properties of the produced compost were investigated during composting domestic food wastes without additive. A small composter used in this study had the height of 15 cm from the center of bottom half circle (diameter 24 cm) up to under the lid, the side length of 50 cm and the horizontal lid angle of $50^{\circ}$ and was operated at the heating unit temperature of $85^{\circ}$. It was mixed by the rotating arm for two minutes in every half hour while supplied with air flow at 3 L/min for 10 minutes in every half hour. This condition was found in a preliminary experiment as optimal for keeping the water content of composting material in the optimal range without adding any bulking materials. The domestic food wastes were added into the composter at the rate of 1 kg/day without additives during composting. The results were as follows; during the composting process, water content maintained in the range of $51.0{\sim}53.5%$. Hemicellulose and lignin contents did not show any tendency, but cellulose content decreased. During the composting process, $NH_3-N$ and $NO_2-N$ were not detected due to nitrification. The contents of inorganic compounds did not increase during the composting process. They were in the range of $1.32{\sim}1.71%\;P_2O_5$, $1.29{\sim}1.48%\;CaO$, $0.41{\sim}0.49%\;MgO$, and $0.38{\sim}0.74%\;K_2O$. For 20 days, weight reduction rate was 67.5% in wet basis, and decomposition rate was 48% in dry basis. Concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, As) was less than the limiting value of the compost. Maturity of the produced compost was 3 grade through reaching maximum temperature of $46{\sim}48^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1997

Commercial inocula and mature compost were added separately to food wastes in order to compare the inoculating effect on garbage decomposition. Among commercial inocula available in the market, GM (Green Microorganisms) and EM (Effective Microorganisms) were selected as test inocula. Garbage decompostion were evaluated in Volatile Solid (VS) reduction and FDA (Fluorescein DiAcetate) hydrolysis activity. VS reduction with mature compost experiment was higher than that with GM-added one. VS reduction rates were about 32% with mature compost and 27% with GM. When food wastes were treated with GM and EM based on the manufacturer's specifications, GM-added and EM-added food wastes showed only 8% and 9% of VS reduction respectively, which are much lower than those with the mature compost. FDA hydrolysis activity increased during the first 10 days of active composting periods for the composting experiments, while it decreased continuously for the experiments based on manufacturer's specifications.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to understand the management status of food wastes in school meal to find the effective ways that would reduce and recycle them. Data was collected using questionnaires from 223 school dietitians located in Jeonbuk area. The results were as followed : 1) Waste was managed by the dietitians(54.7%) and cook(42.2%). The waste disposal contract was made by dietitians(65.0%), executives(31.4%). Therefore, school dietitians had primary responsibilities in the waste management. 2) As disposal ways, 48.9% processed municipal solid waste and food waste together and 46.6% processed separately. 3) A half of schools(52.9%) produced food wastes weighed under 10$\sim$15kg daily and using food wastes as animal food for farms was most popular method to dispose(87.4%). 4) Reasons to have food-wastes were disliking the taste of menu(50.2%) and the inappropriate ways of dealing with remaining food(64.1%) and donating to food bank(33.6%) in order. 5) The suggested ways to reduce the food-waste was to improve on cooking method(72.2%), changing of portion size(61.0%), measuring the amount of leftover food(53.4%) and requesting cooperation to educators(52.9%). 6) The reported consequences of reducing the food waste were: lowered grocery expenses(46.2%), and inspiring students on helping environmental preservation(23.8%). Therefore, the administration should work on finding a method to reduce food-waste and a way to use these resources efficiently. It is important to induct student's attitude on recycling remaining products by using food bank via nutrition education. Dietitian also should consider to reduce the leftover of food by using a standardized recipe.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.422-432
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• 2019

Objectives: The purposes of the study were to assess wastes generated in school foodservice and to identify factors influencing the generation of plate waste. Methods: A survey was administered from November 18-30 in 2015 to dietitians and nutrition teachers that were employed in schools located in Gyeonggi province. A questionnaire file and on-line survey site link were sent to the dietitians and nutrition teachers by e-mail. A total of 622 dietitians and nutrition teachers responded and 594 responses were used for data analysis after excluding 28 responses with significant missing data. Results: Plate waste was the major part of food waste generated in school foodservice. Vegetable menus and soup/stews were discarded the most as plate waste. The dietitians and nutrition teachers perceived students' unbalanced diet and lack of appreciation of food as causes of the plate waste. Regarding waste management, they were concerned about environmental contamination by food waste and felt uncomfortable about discarding food. No plate waste day was the most frequently used plate waste reduction activity, followed by newsletters on plate waste reduction. Difficulty in getting teachers' support for dietary education during meal time was rated the greatest barrier to implementing the activities. To reduce plate waste, they perceived that students should understand the importance of environment conservation, teachers should supervise students' eating during meal time, students should be educated about proper portion, and foodservice staff should improve food quality. Conclusions: To improve students' intake and reduce plate waste in school foodservice, foodservice staff need to involve students in school foodservice and improve the palatability of meals, especially vegetable dishes. School nutrition teachers and dietitians should educate students about healthy eating and environment conservation and the school community needs to understand and support plate waste reduction and healthy eating in schools.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2000

Compostable household wastes(mainly food residues) were composted in a small bin for 30 days, in which compostable household wastes were fed every day and mixed thoroughly under aerobic conditions. Three small bins were employed. In the first bin only recycled compost was composted, in the second, compostable household wastes with recycled compost, and in the third compostable household wastes with recycled compost and vermiculture. The correct decomposition rate of each composting material was calculated during composting. Total reduced rate of the weight after 30 days was 57.32% when composting the compostable household wastes with recycled compost, and 64.71% when composting them with recycled compost and vermiculite. In the case of composting the compostable household wastes with the recycled compost, the total weight reduction rate for a day was 6.81% and the total decomposition rate 6.81%. Their difference was not great. But in the case calculated with only compostable household wastes the total weight reduction rate was 56.34% and the decomposition 6.79%. When compostable household wastes were composted with the recycled compost and vermiculite, the total weight reduction rate was 64.99% and the decomposition rate 1.48%, but the total weight reduction 4.36% and the decomposition rate 35.46% when calculated with only compostable household wastes. MgO, $K_2O$ and Cr concentrations in the composting mixture during the early composting time were higher when composted with vermiculite than without it, but organic matter, CaO, NaCl, and $P_2O_5$ concentrations were contrarily diluted because of their lower concentration of vermiculite when compostable household wastes were composted with vermiculite.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.357-367
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• 2007

This research was performed to evaluate the effects of nutrition education on food waste reduction at school food service. A dietitian conducted nutrition education on environmental protection and proper eating attitude and poor eating habits for 3rd and 5th graders at an elementary school in Seoul. The effectiveness of the education was evaluated by surveying the students before and after the education; 375 responses were analyzed. A questionnaire was designed to compare changes of the students' attitudes and plate waste before and after education. Plate wastes of boiled black rice(p<0.05), potato soup(p<0.05), amaranthus herb salad(p<0.01), and cabbage kimchi(p<0.05) decreased significantly after education. Students' eating attitudes improved significantly(t= -6.22, p<0.01) after nutrition education. Major reasons the students did not eat all foods they were served were large portion sizes (30.59%), low menu preference (29.79%), and tastes (17.82%). The menus with high plate waste rates were cooked vegetable items (35.64%) and soup items (26.6%). After education, students' attitudes on ‘food waste pollutes the Earth(p=0.013)’, ‘food preparation for birthday parties(p<0.01)’, and ‘restaurant selection for eating out (p<0.01)’ changed significantly. After education, plate waste and portion sizes that the students perceived were not negatively correlated. In conclusion, nutrition education on proper eating habits and source reduction is an effective method to reduce food waste generation and to improve students' eating attitudes and awareness on environment.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.175-210
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• 2012

As London and post-Koyto protocols presumably affect emission of organic waste in Korea in 2012, appropriate treatment of organic waste becomes very important. Organic wastes are regarded as non-point pollutants. It has been criticized that direct emission charges on the emission of non-point pollutants are not effective due to the high uncertainty in the relationship between pollution sources and pollution levels. This study suggests indirect emission charges on production of livestocks or consumption on foods. Furthermore, it is assumed that revenue from the emission charges will be recycled to support biogas production. Biogas can be fueled to produce energy. In order to evaluate potential economic and environmental impacts of recycling the indirect emission charges on organic wastes, a static CGE model was developed. Simulation results of emission charges on the production of livestock show that livestock, agriculture, and food industry will confront relatively high burden while emission charges on consumption of food will affect more broadly and consumers will suffer more. Production charge on livestock sector will lead to higher reduction in GDP and total expenditure relative to the consumption charge. GHGs reduction effect was higher for the consumption charge relative to the production charge. Synthetically, consumption charge on food sector is more desirable as an alternative charge for the emission of organic wastes.