Current strategies for dairy waste management: A review

Abstract

Industrial waste management is nowadays one of the main issues for ensuring a sustainable environment. Dairy waste management in particular is very crucial in view of the high organic matter and high nutrient levels contained in dairy effluents. Dairy waste can be effectively treated either with aerobic or anaerobic processes. The main advantages of the former consist of low yield, high kinetics, pathogen free product, and high temperature operation whereas the latter is a simple, low budget and conservative technology. Occasionally, pre-treatment strategies (i.e. wetlands) are required in order to improve the efficiency of treatment methodology. Wetlands are a promising technology applied in order to remove the greater part of nutrients and minerals contained in milk based products.