Authors: Dias P.G.I, Sajiwanie J.W.A, Rathnayaka R.M.U.S.K.
Process food industry in Sri Lanka has been expanded with the open economy, increase of population, technological development, and the modern lifestyle of people. Meantime, disposal of solid food waste from such industries has become one of the major environmental issues in the country. Although fruits are the leading food waste type generates globally, literature for fruit wastes (FW) generate in Sri Lankan fruit manufacturing industries (FMI) is scanty. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the types and amounts of FW generates in FMI, waste management practices currently employing in FMI, issues and challenges associated with the implementation of sustainable waste management practices and potentials of reuse and recycle the FW instead of disposal. The study was carried out as a qualitative study using the five leading FMI in Sri Lanka and the data were collected through a questionnaire survey, personal interviews, focused group discussions and personal observations. Gathered data demonstrated that annual fruit wastage of FMI is around 35 to 60%. Pineapple leftovers found to be the leading FW type generates in local FMI. Out of studied industries, only one FMI recycle and reuse the FW by composting and for others FW is a profit loss since they hire a third party to dispose the waste. As such, there is a great potential to reuse and recycle the FW generate in Sri Lankan FMI. However, financial restriction, lack of affordable technologies, difficulty in finding workers and lands, and public protest against the development of waste processing areas were identified as manger issues in the attempt of reuse and recycling the waste.
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