Sustainable cultivation of olive trees by reusing olive mill wastes after effective co-composting treatment processes

Olive oil production is associated with extremely polluting byproducts causing serious environmental problems in most Mediterranean countries. These highly polluting residues are currently disposed of in the soil, rivers or lakes or where treatment methods have been applied, they were proven insufficient or nonfeasible under the Greek situation. On the other hand strict EU environmental legislation could force the olive oil mills to close unless a viable and environmentally sound solution is adopted. This paper reports on an integrated viable solution to the olive mill waste problem. The method involves the olive oil removal from wastewater, their detoxification by Fenton oxidation reactions and following their utilization by biological treatment methods (anaerobic digestion and co-composting).