Municipal solid waste characterization and quantification as a measure towards effective waste management in Ghana

Abstract

Reliable national data on waste generation and composition that will inform effective planning on waste management in Ghana is absent. To help obtain this data on a regional basis, selected households in each region were recruited to obtain data on rate of waste generation, physical composition of waste, sorting and separation efficiency and per capita of waste. Results show that rate of waste generation in Ghana was 0.47 kg/person/day, which translates into about 12,710 tons of waste per day per the current population of 27,043,093. Nationally, biodegradable waste (organics and papers) was 0.318 kg/person/day and non-biodegradable or recyclables (metals, glass, textiles, leather and rubbers) was 0.096 kg/person/day. Inert and miscellaneous waste was 0.055 kg/person/day. The average household waste generation rate among the metropolitan cities, except Tamale, was high, 0.72 kg/person/day. Metropolises generated higher waste (average 0.63 kg/person/day) than the municipalities (0.40 kg/person/day) and the least in the districts (0.28 kg/person/day) which are less developed. The waste generation rate also varied across geographical locations, the coastal and forest zones generated higher waste than the northern savanna zone. Waste composition was 61% organics, 14% plastics, 6% inert, 5% miscellaneous, 5% paper, 3% metals, 3% glass, 1% leather and rubber, and 1% textiles. However, organics and plastics, the two major fractions of the household waste varied considerably across the geographical areas. In the coastal zone, the organic waste fraction was highest but decreased through the forest zone towards the northern savanna. However, through the same zones towards the north, plastic waste rather increased in percentage fraction. Households did separate their waste effectively averaging 80%. However, in terms of separating into the bin marked biodegradables, 84% effectiveness was obtained whiles 76% effectiveness for sorting into the bin labeled other waste was achieved.

Household Waste Generating Factors and Composition Study for Effective Management in Gorkha Municipality of Nepal

“…The primary step is to understand how much and what kind of waste is generated in order to decide the most effective strategy for its management (Adeniran, Nubi, & Adelopo, 2017;Aleluia & Ferrão, 2016;Armijo de Vega, Ojeda Benítez, & Ramírez Barreto, 2008;Edjabou et al, 2015;Gallardo, Edo-Alcón, Carlos, & Renau, 2016;Khan, Kumar, & Samadder, 2016;Miezah, Obiri-Danso, Kádár, Fei-Baffoe, & Mensah, 2015;Trang, Dong, Toan, Hanh, & Thu, 2017). This study attempted to make a move in this direction by analyzing generation and composition of household (HH) waste in Gorkha municipality.…”

“…This study attempted to make a move in this direction by analyzing generation and composition of household (HH) waste in Gorkha municipality. In developing countries, about 55-80% of MSW are known to be generated by HHs (Miezah et al, 2015). In Nepal too, it is assumed that HHs account for on average 75% of total municipal waste generation (SWMRMC, 2004).…”

“…In addition, this study also analyzes HHs' socioeconomic factors impacting waste generation. Waste generation is heterogeneous (Miezah et al, 2015) and are highly dependent on socioeconomic status of the population (Sankoh, Yan, & Conteh, 2012). Socioeconomic factors enable people to access resources required to improve their living standard.…”

Perbaikan Sistem Pengumpulan Sampah Pada Perumahan Di Kota Batam

“…Namun cara ini tidak menghitung secara detail karaktersitik proses pengangkutan sampah (Miezah, Obiri-Danso, Kádár, Fei-Baffoe, & Mensah, 2015). Penentuan jumlah server atau jumlah truk pengangkut sampah juga dapat dilakukan melalui klasifikasi residen atau populasi berdasarkan kelas sosio ekonominya.…”

Mass Balance of Plastic Waste Conversion to Fuel Oil- A case in Uganda

“…The major factors that contribute to the amount of MSW are population growth, standard of living and diet habits (Kinobe, Niwagaba, Gebresenbet, Komakech, & Vinnerås, 2015;Komakech, 2014;Troschinetz & Mihelcic, 2009). A number of authors Miezah, Obiri-Danso, Kadar, Fei-Baffoe, & Mensah, 2015;Nabukeera Madinah & Boerhannoeddin, 2014) have provided several overviews on the composition of MSW in sub-Saharan Africa. The per capita generation of waste plastic is estimated as 0.056 kg/day.…”