The Evolution and Current State of Food Waste Recycling - August 1994

The Evolution and Current State of Food Waste Recycling - August 1994

The 1990s: The Dawn of Food Waste Recycling
The total volume of food waste in the 1990s was estimated at approximately 25 million tons per year, and it was on an upward trend against the backdrop of the bubble economy of the late 1980s [nihon-u.ac.jp]. The generation of food waste increased alongside the expansion of the foodservice and food processing industries, and the limits of disposal capacity became a particular problem in urban areas. During this period, most food waste was incinerated or landfilled, although attempts at composting and converting it into livestock feed had begun in some areas. In fiscal year 1996, the total volume of food waste reached 3.447 million tons, while food scraps and leftovers amounted to approximately 11 million tons. Food manufacturers began initiatives to reduce food waste generated during production and to promote recycling, such as utilizing coffee grounds in mushroom cultivation [env.go.jp].

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Sources
- Nihon University: History of Food Waste [nihon-u.ac.jp]
- Ministry of the Environment: Trends in Food Waste [env.go.jp]
- Consumer Affairs Agency: Statistical Data on Food Waste [caa.go.jp]
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Trends in Food Recycling [maff.go.jp]