Disposal
Apple pomace is a waste product occasionally disposed of by dumping in fields or next to processing plants. It is rapidly biodegradable, with a high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Its high water and fermentable sugar contents result in quick spoilage causing pollution, and using apple pomace for feeding livestock is a way to alleviate this problem (Crawshaw, 2004). Alternative methods for disposing of apple pomace include composting, fuel production, and spraying it as mulch for landfilling or landspreading (Shalini et al., 2010; Linskens et al., 1999; Copas, 2004; Stapleton, 1983).
Soil improver and weed controller
Apple pomace is a valuable source of mulch or compost (Copas, 2004). Composting should be done in combination with a source of C in order to get an adequate C:N ratio for composting. In the UK, apple pomace was shown to be effective in suppressing weeds, and could be a valuable substrate for grass seed germination in difficult areas such as roadsides (Copas, 2004).