The “REDUCE” project: definition of a methodology for quantifying food waste by means of targeted waste composition analysis

Abstract

“REDUCE” (Research, Education, Communication: an integrated approach for food waste prevention) is a biennial project on food waste funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and managed by the DISTAL Department at the University of Bologna, with four partners. This paper focuses on a specific research activity related to the definition of a methodology for the quantification of food waste by means of waste composition analysis. This methodology implies the physical separation, weighing, and classification of food waste found in representative samples of municipal waste entering the treatment facilities. The objectives of the research activity, the main steps of the methodology, and some preliminary results are presented in the paper.