International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture (IJROWA) Sustainability of a rice husk recycling scheme Volume 9 (2020) Issue 4, December 2020 2024 01 18 Sustainability of a rice husk recycling scheme 10.30486/ijrowa.2020.1900077.1074 EN Masafumi Tateda School of Environmental Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University Toyama 939-0398, Japan 0000-0001-7558-4416 Chieu Le Van Project Management Department, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam Masafumi Tateda School of Environmental Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University Toyama 939-0398, Japan 0000-0001-7558-4416 Hiroshi Takimoto Faculty of Bioresources and Environmental Sciences, Ishikawa Prefectural University, Ishikawa 921-8836, Japan Journal Article 2024 01 18 Purpose To ensure the sustainability of rice husk recycling schemes, there are essential conditions that should be considered. In this study, a system in which a fertilizer was obtained after rice husk heat treatment, which also produces hot water as a heat recovery strategy, was considered, and its financial sustainability, based on different conditions in place, was then evaluated. Method Based on a previous study, three essential conditions that are necessary for the sustainability of the system were identified (i.e., free or low-cost rice husk collection and hauling, production of silica in the amorphous state, and complete recycling of rice husk ash). The necessity of these conditions was confirmed based on the sustainability of the financial balance of the system. Results A 24-h d-1 operated system is more profitable than one that is operated at 6-h d-1. The pelletizing process is costly; however, the fertilizer in the pellet form can be sold at a relatively higher price. The system was unsustainable when rice husk collection and hauling as well as ash disposal fees were charged. Conclusion Therefore, the cost of rice husk collection, hauling, and ash disposal as well as the amorphous state of the ash were confirmed as conditions that are necessary to ensure the sustainability of a rice husk recycling scheme.