Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunches and the Implementation of Zero Waste and Renewable Energy Technologies

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) are oil palm biomass that can be processed into organic amendments and energy sources. Currently, the methods to utilize these solid waste have become a concern because it is related to the implementation of the zero-waste concept. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the current management of EFB waste from palm oil mills based on the concept of zero waste and renewable energy. This study used secondary data analysis of palm oil mills, field interviews, and literature study to evaluate EFB waste management. The results showed that the ratio of EFB and CPO produced by palm oil mills was around 27:23. The average EFB produced by manufacturers is 3,558.8 tons/month. Most palm oil mills manage their EFB wastes using mulching treatment. This showed that palm oil mills in Indonesia have yet to implement the existing technologies that many researchers have developed. Composting and anaerobic digestion are the alternative treatments that can be implemented by palm oil mills since both can reduce the EFB waste and produce products that can be sold and reused. The government of Indonesia can encourage palm oil mills to shift their waste management from using mulching treatment to anaerobic digestion and composting treatment.