PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The palm oil industry holds significant economic importance in many countries, particularly in Indonesia. It plays a vital role in driving economic growth and generating employment opportunities. However, this industry also poses environmental challenges, primarily related to waste management.
Liquid waste from palm oil mill would have highly biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The substances reflect organic and chemical material levels that could pollute the environment if they are not well processed.
As Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from Buku Fakta Kelapa Sawit, to solve the issues, there are methods to apply liquid wastes from mills. The most common methoed used is by advantaging anaerobic pool. It is the spot where palm oil liquid waste can be biologically processed without oxygen. In the process certain micro-organism would be unraveling organic material in the waste, produce side products, such as, gas methane that could be taken for advantages as source of energy.
The nutrient in liquid waste in mill can be taken for advantages for agriculture. Liquid waste in mill has nitrogen, phosphor, and potassium and other organic materials. The nutrient can add more nutrients to plants and chemical fertilizers can be reduced and even fully not used anymore. It means, liquid waste application in mill would deliver double advantages, they are, reduce environmental pollution and escalate agricultural productivity.
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Liquid waste application system in mill can be running in many methods, such as, sprinkle (water sprinkles) system, flatbed (it flows through pipes to distribution tubs to the secondary ditch), long bet (it flows to the straight and winding ditch), and tank tractor (liquid palm oil waste is transported from waste water installation to the plantation areas). Applying application method should be adjustable with the condition and needs in every palm oil plantation.
Besides liquid waste, processing one tons of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) would produce solid waste, such as, about 200 – 250 kilogram – empty bunches. Solid waste can be taken for advantages as well. Empty bunches can be used as the alternative fuel in mill, reduce dependency to fossil fuel, and minimize green-house gas emission.
Empty bunches application in palm oil plantations would significantly deliver advantages. In one hectare – palm oil plantation, 60 ton – empty bunches can be applied to substitute nitrogen, potassium in every year. This would reduce chemical application and minimize the negative impacts for the environment.
Advantaging palm oil waste effectively and efficiently would be the important thing to realize sustainable environment and agriculture. In this case, collaboration among the government, palm oil industries, and the people is needed. The government needs to encourage to adopt waste management well by publishing regulation and incentive. Palm oil industries need to invest in palm oil waste management technology which is innovative and environmental while the people should play their roles to support and implement sustainable practice in their daily life.
By having the same will and efforts to manage palm oil wastes well, it is hoped there would be continuity among palm oil industries, environment, and agriculture. Managing waste effectively and advantaging it wisely would deliver long term – advantages for many, maintain sustainability in palm oil sectors, and protect environment for the future generations. (T2)
