Treatment of waste organic in markets and supermarkets with Solar Drying

Abstract

Public markets and supermarkets are one of the largest solid waste generators in Mexico City. Based on Mexican regulations, markets and supermarkets should have an efficient solid waste management system. However, currently there are not waste management plans; wastes are routinely mixed and separation is scarce. For that reason, the goal of this research was to propose a Solar Drying Systems for treatment fruits and vegetables before they are a waste or arrive at the trash can due to its decomposition, to prolong their availability on the markets and supermarkets. Likewise, an unconventional technology was proposed for treating organic wastes. There are 329 public markets and 332 supermarkets in Mexico City with no waste management strategies, the biggest problem being the temporary storage of the wastes. The most common solid wastes were: food residues, cardboard, paper and plastics, while metals, Styrofoam and rubber represented the smallest part of solid wastes. Citrus wastes were the most suitable to be treated with unconventional technologies. Wastes treated in solar dryers at a temperature of 40 degrees, 900 W/m2 of solar radiation, permitted to obtain a highly nutritious product containing 93% of dry matter, without bacterial life, appropriate for use as animal feed for cattle and sheep. Therefore, it can be said that the solar dehydration is a viable, economic and option that can be used by public market and supermarket  so as not to waste the organic matter, it is recommended to do studies to see if it can be used for pet food.