Circular economy aiding the kitchen waste management: Research to practice

Department of Food and Nutrition, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis Mahavidyalaya, 111/3 B.T. Road, Kolkata - 700108, West Bengal, India

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 19 June 2026

Abstract

Circular economy- A system where materials never become waste and the environment is regenerated [1,2]. It is dependent on seven pillars- high value material use, biodiversity protection, cultural preservation, human health, fair resource use, well -being and sustainable water use. The benefits from this economy are conservation of resources, carbon footprint reduction, waste reduction, savings, new model innovation, consumer access, healthier environments [1,3,8]. In cities household, waste had turned to be a problem which has led to segregation of waste as wet and dry waste. This article is looking towards the specific wet waste or kitchen waste reuse. It's an age-old theory in village where each household has its own pit of kitchen waste -filled-covered-converted to compost used for agriculture/given in the flowering plants in their compound or improving the quality of soil for reuse. Every day kitchen waste consists of peels of vegetables and fruits along with bones of fish or meat. The kitchen waste, from a household may be converted to compost or humus. Every two of the three flats in a residential area are growing terrace garden or balcony garden. About lOOOgms of kitchen waste can be converted to compost or humus of 300gms to 500gms -organically/through machines. We also know that soil is non-renewable source of energy. If the soil is mixed with natural compost, it may be again reusable. This article is looking towards this circular economy of soil-plants (vegetables and fruits peels, dry leaves and flowers)- compost- soil. It's a model which could be used but prior to that the awareness and enforcement in big cities and towns were multi-storeyed building are made needs to be incorporated.