Characterization And Energy Content Analysis Of Municipal Solid Waste: The Case Of Agaro Town.

Abstract

Agaro Town is one of the growing towns in the south western part of Ethiopia with poor solid waste management practice. Waste collection and disposal is a challenge for many municipalities in Ethiopia and Agaro town is no exception. The recently increasing municipal waste in the town may be attributed to rapid population growth and urbanization. The collection of solid wastes by the municipality is inappropriate that may lead to various public health problems and environmental impacts. All the wastes generated in the town end up at the Koye dump site without any recovery of valuable material or energy. The study was carried to characterize and analyze energy content of municipal solid waste in Agaro Town administration, South Western Ethiopia. Understanding the energy potential of the waste in the dumpsite is the base for waste utilization for energy sector. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the energy potential of municipal solid waste at Koye dumpsite in Agaro Town. To get reliable data for characterization and generation rate analysis, 100kg solid waste were sampled from Koye dumpsite. The proximate and ultimate analysis of municipal solid waste was determined in Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine department of post-harvest Laboratory. From 100kg sample waste collected only 85.57kg of waste used for analysis the other waste which accounts about 14.43kg is metal and glass removed from analysis since it consume high energy during combustion. According to the data analysis the composition of the waste is as follows: chat waste 39.87%, plastic 19.05%, cardboard 12.27%, paper 9.71%, food waste 8.29%, textile 6.01% and yard waste 4.8%. The rate of generation of solid waste in the town is very fast and then it reaches about 7750m3 per year. The per capita waste generation rate in the Town is 0.58kg/day/ Person. The results of the proximate analysis showed that high volatile matter indicate the wastes can easy burn making it suitable for energy recovery. The calorific value of the waste is about 16490.22kJ/kg this indicates the waste is important source of energy. The analysis also showed that the organic portion of the waste has chemical compositions with and without sulphur are C568.918H1416.449O507.020N10.184S and C55.866H139.098O49.787N respectively. Also the waste had 69.47kg dry mass and about 172.97 kg/m3 density. The compositional analysis as well as the proximate and ultimate analysis clearly indicates that the municipal solid waste of Agaro Town is suitable for energy recovery.