Sustainability of composting as an alternative waste management option for developing countries: A case study of the City of Tshwane

Abstract

Excessive MSW production is a growing management problem for cities in developing countries, such as South Africa. This study addresses these challenges with particular focus on the City of Tshwane. A major problem in Tshwane is that all the MSW generated in the city, including garden waste, is currently being landfilled. A waste stream analysis of Tshwane reveals the largest fraction of MSW is organic and biodegradable, and therefore suitable for compost production. The study proposes that Tshwane will have to address composting the biodegradable fraction of the MSW stream. This study attempts to understand the economics of composting practices in Tshwane, whether composting in Tshwane is financially viable. A comparative study, applying the dome aeration technology on a conventional static windrow, was conducted with the objective of investigating and proposing alternative improved composting technologies for green waste. Although the study focused on Tshwane, it can be argued that the findings could be implemented in any other South African municipality, and even implemented in other emerging countries.

How Assessment Methods Can Support Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries—A Critical Review

“…Coffey [22] and Bleck [23] also elaborate on intermediate storage containers. Other authors focus on specific treatment options, for municipal solid waste recycling technologies [24], organic waste treatment technologies [25][26][27][28][29], hospital waste treatment [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37], e-waste treatment [38,39], or landfill disposal [40][41][42]. Only a few publications, however, systematically check how the suggested technology improvements would conform to the criteria established for appropriate technologies.…”

Predictors of efficiency in municipal waste management in Tshwane municipalities, South Africa

“…In this regard, the White Paper produced by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (2015) encourages the general public to invest in local technologies that could be used for the efficient management of solid waste by local governments and municipalities. Some of the methods proposed by South African researchers include the commercialization of solid waste (Worku, 2013), forging strategic partnerships between the public and private sector (Seeletse, 2012), the effective implementation of municipal bylaws and legislative codes (Snyman & Vorster, 2011), the use of appropriate local technology (LEAP (PTY) Ltd, 2011), and techniques that are based on decomposition of waste accumulated in landfills used by municipalities (Worku, Snyman & Muchie, 2014). Public awareness campaigns and the provision of health education on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation have been used in developing cities such as Nigeria in accordance with guidelines set out by the United Nations Environmental Protection Agency (2015).…”

Differential Factors of Efficiency in the Management of Solid Waste in the City of Tshwane, South Africa

“…Although more than 25% of small and medium-sized businesses as well as informal traders operating in the City of Tshwane generate waste in the course of conducting routine business (Snyman & Vorster, 2011;CTMM, 2012a,b), the pace at which such waste is properly collected and disposed of by municipal workers employed by the City of Tshwane is significantly lower than the pace at which waste is generated. This situation is exacerbated at times of civil action carried out by municipal workers responsible for routine waste collection and disposal.…”

“…There is room to improve the current level of efficiency in the management of waste produced by the various sources of solid and liquid waste and pollution. In terms of the strategic plan adopted by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) to improve efficiency in the management of waste, the various sources of solid and liquid waste and pollution are major stakeholders, and no progress can be made unless the various sources of solid and liquid waste and pollution are involved in the implementation of the plan drawn up by the DEAT (Snyman & Vorster, 2011;SANDEAT, 2012).…”

“…These background factors are lack of infrastructural capacity required for the efficient management and processing of solid waste (Caplan et al, 2002;Snyman & Vorster, 2011;CTMM, 2012a,b), poor awareness about the benefits of proper waste management (Suman et al, 2010), lack of socioeconomic incentives to stakeholders relevant to the waste management chain , failure to adequately utilize modern waste management and processing technology (Bates et al, 2008;Vicente & Reis, 2008), failure to vigorously enforce municipal bylaws (CTMM, 2012a,b), and the absence of an integrated waste management system in Tshwane (USEPA, 2006;Hage et al, 2009). The study aims to identify and quantify the key predictors of inefficiency in the management of solid waste in the City of Tshwane.…”