A Feasibility Study on Effect of Food Waste Leachate Additions in the Full-Scale Waste Leachate Treatment Facility after the African Swine Fever Outbreak in South Korea

Due to the ban on the use of food waste as wet swine feed after the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), 2900 tons/day of food waste and 1083 tons/day of food waste leachate were additionally generated. As an alternative treatment method for food waste leachate, the input of food waste leachate on weekends (5% of food waste leachate inflow, 100 tons/day) and its increased input (merge ratio 21.7%, 227.01 tons/day → 27.8%, 453.71 tons/day) into the digesters operated in a public sewage treatment plant were investigated. Additionally, the feasibility of the method was evaluated by analyzing the operation parameters, evaluating the operation efficiency, and identifying other environmental effects on the sewage treatment plant. In the case of input on weekends, the organic matter decomposition rate and gas production rate decreased by 8.0% and 9.5%, respectively, although the input on weekends was judged to be feasible, considering that the inflow into the WWTP increased by up to 206% due to the long-term (7 weeks) monsoon. In the case of the increased input of food waste leachate, the organic matter decomposition and gas production rates increased by 2.5% and 4.8%, respectively, compared with before the increased input. The results of this study confirmed that the additional input of food waste leachate into existing biogasification facilities is feasible. When performed in a stable manner, the use of food waste for anaerobic digestion is considered an appropriate alternative treatment method to wet feed. This will lead to technological and industrial development.