Using fresh vegetable waste from Chinese traditional wet markets as animal feed: Material feasibility and utilization potential

Ting Chen; Qiongyin Wang; Yifan Wang; Zhengxia Dou; Xiaoqin Yu; Huajun Feng; Meizhen Wang; Yanfeng Zhang; Jun Yin

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166105

Using fresh vegetable waste from Chinese traditional wet markets as animal feed: Material feasibility and utilization potential

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 1:902:166105. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166105. Epub 2023 Aug 13.

Authors

Ting Chen¹, Qiongyin Wang¹, Yifan Wang¹, Zhengxia Dou², Xiaoqin Yu³, Huajun Feng¹, Meizhen Wang¹, Yanfeng Zhang⁴, Jun Yin⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-Carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
² Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
³ Zhejiang Best Energy and Environment Co., Ltd, Hangzhou 310007, China.
⁴ Beijing Environmental Sanitation Engineering Group Limited, Beijing 100000, China.
⁵ School of Environment Science & Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-Carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China. Electronic address: jun.yin77@gmail.com.

PMID: 37582443
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166105

Abstract

To develop new animal feed sources and establish a sustainable food upcycling system, the material feasibility and feeding potential of fresh vegetable waste (FVW) were clarified in this study. First, the FVW output of wet markets in Hangzhou, China was tracked and predicted. The results showed that the retail waste ratio of FVW in wet markets reached 9.3 %, predicting that China's FVW will reach 9034 kt in 2030. Second, the study revealed that the nutritive value of FVW was comparable to that of traditional alfalfa feed, suitable for use as animal feed. However, we found a high probability of microbial contamination. Therefore, FVW should have stricter classification and collection methods. Under this premise, the feeding utilization potential of FVW in wet markets is large. In 2030, the crude protein content may replace 2737 kt of alfalfa, saving 7.7 E + 08 m³ of water and 75,018 ha of land.

Keywords: Animal feed; Fresh vegetable; Waste; Waste utilization; Wet market.

MeSH terms

Animal Feed* / analysis
Animals
China
Feasibility Studies
Food Supply
Fruit*
Vegetables*