Advances in Recycling & Waste Management

Quantification and Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste as a Measure Towards Effective Waste Management in Metu Town, South-West Ethiopia

Abstract

Yohannis Fetenea*, Biruk Gobena and Mohammed Birhan

For effective planning and development of waste management systems for cities, proper quantification and characterization of the municipal solid waste are essential. The objective of this study was to determine the composition and generation rate of household, commercials and institutions solid waste in Metu town as a measure towards effective waste management. Total daily municipal solid waste generated from the town was estimated to be 35,649 kg, among it more than 83% of the waste generated from households, 16% from commercials area and the rest from institutions. The per capita daily solid waste generation for households was 0.378 ± 0.05 kg/cap/day, commercials area and institutions were found to be 0.024 ± 0.01 kg/floor area/day and 0.14 ± 0.05 kg/employee/day, respectively. The Physical characterization showed that biodegradable waste, plastic, paper and cardboard, textile, leather, rubber, wood scrap, sanitary product and metal waste were the constituents of all waste samples in the study area, but in varying proportions. The composition analysis of municipal solid waste showed that more than 50% by weight was biodegradable/organic waste which is valuable resource for recycling in the form of organic fertilizer. Whereas, 25% of waste generated from the town can be recycled at generation level. The calorific/energy value of municipal solid waste revealed that 3,305 kcal/kg for paper and cardboard waste, and 3,819.33 kcal/kg for wood scrap waste which revealed the suitability of the Metu town municipal solid waste as energy recovery option. From the result of this study it can be concluded that, higher biodegradable solid waste and good calorific value of the solid wastes generated in the town the town municipality can recover this waste by introducing an integrated urban agriculture that might convert this waste to organic fertilizer through composting and waste to energy conversion can be an attractive urban waste management option and source of energy as an alternative to fossil-based fuels.