A video from China showing a novel approach to managing food waste in school canteens has gained attention on social media. The clip shows students depositing leftover food into a specialised machine instead of throwing it into bins. The system processes food scraps to recover oil for biodiesel production and converts the remaining organic waste into compost, promoting the reuse of discarded food.
The video, shared on X by user Massimo, shows students placing leftover rice, vegetables, meat and other food scraps into the machine after finishing their meals. The process begins with the machine crushing the waste into a thick slurry, making it easier to separate its components.
The system then extracts oil from the mixture, which is collected and used as a raw material for producing biodiesel. The remaining organic matter undergoes bacterial fermentation, which breaks it down over time and transforms it into compost suitable for improving soil quality.
