Environment and Conservation Fund Accelerating Food‐Waste Digestate Maturation through Microbiome Analysis and De-Novo Process Optimization

This project aims to reduce the maturation time of food-waste digestate (FWD) composting by analyzing microbial communities and operational parameters. Key steps include lab-scale testing to identify physicochemical and microbial factors affecting maturation, developing strategies to optimize microbial activity for faster composting, and validating these methods through pilot trials at organic waste recovery centers. Outcomes will include a comparative analysis of compost dynamics, documented optimization techniques, and a pilot validation report. The goal is to produce high-quality compost more efficiently, advancing sustainable waste management practices in Hong Kong.