Feasibility Study of Organic Waste for Biobag Production in the Maldives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55712/0ftsd493Keywords:
Biobags, Organic Food Waste, Sustainable Alternatives, Maldives, Environmental BiotechnologyAbstract
The widespread use of non-degradable plastic bags contributes significantly to long-term pollution and contamination of oceans and landfills, highlighting the need for biodegradable alternatives. Biobags from starch-based bioplastics are one such alternative for plastic bags. Using a quantitative survey approach, this study aimed to assess the feasibility of sourcing organic food and agricultural waste for biobag production in Haa Dhaalu Hanimaadhoo, a small island in the north of the Maldives. Currently, biobags are manufactured from engineered corn-starch biopolymer pellets that behave like conventional plastics and are classified as plastic biopolymeric materials designed to be compostable under industrial conditions in compliance with EN 13432. The study objectives included surveying plastic bag usage, alternative habits, usage patterns of starch sources such as banana and potato peels, cassava, and leftover rice, along with participants' willingness to provide these raw materials for biobag production. Of the 121 households surveyed, 91% used plastic bags, primarily shopping bags from supermarkets and convenience stores (97%). Most households reused plastic bags as trash bin liners (68%) and for shopping (59%). Eighty seven percent of participants used non-woven bags, and 31% used biodegradable bags. Most households used rice (103 households), potatoes (65 households), and bananas (50 households) daily, with under 1 kg of organic waste discarded. Over 85% of households, along with farmers and cafés/restaurants, were willing to provide their waste for biobag production, although concerns about refrigerating the waste until collection were raised. Based on this willingness, for a monthly input demand, our estimates deduced that all three raw materials can be feasibly obtained from the island for the pilot phase. The study hence contributes by demonstrating the feasibility of collecting organic waste for biobag production on the selected island, for the pilot production phase, while highlighting the need for an efficient collection system, incentivisation and targeted awareness campaigns.
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The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author due to privacy and institutional restrictions.
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