Getting value from wastewater: by-products recovery in a potato chips industry

Reducing environmental impacts and getting economic benefits, based on by-product recovery, and on reduction of both water consumption and organic load, was the aim of the implementation of an eco-efficiency process in a crispy chips industry. Separations at the source were implemented resulting in increase of business productivity, due to the added value achieved through by-product valorisation. Improvement changes were monitored through physico-chemical and ecotoxicological evaluations of the wastewater, which has favourably evolved from acutely toxic to minor acutely toxic. Evidence is provided about the formulation of cleaner production opportunities enabling the downsizing of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with a subsequent decrease of energy, water and chemicals input and a decrease in sludge generation.