ABSTRACT
Biowaste is an indispensable part of urban areas and contributes immensely to socio-economic development depending on how it is looked at. In today’s world, some three billion people, primarily in the developing countries, continue to struggle with their energy needs. In addition to struggling with energy needs, some of these developing countries do not have sufficient fertilisers for crop production. Urban organic waste produced in these areas poses environmental, social, economic and public health issues.
The bio-waste utilisation in the developing countries can play a major role in fulfilling the demands of the developing countries. Ghana being an agricultural country has a tremendous potential to utilise urban bio-waste for agricultural use as well.
The aim of this thesis was to find ways of utilising the organic fraction of waste in the Ho township. The participation of the Ho Municipality in the North South Local Government cooperation with the city of Lahti in Finland makes this thesis very feasible for future implementation.
In addition to Urine Diverting Dry Toilet (UDDT) pilots in the municipality, this thesis will serve as a good basis to initiate a pilot for the utilization of the urban organic waste generated especially in the light of the ongoing projects in the municipality. It seeks to highlight the present status of waste management in the Ho township, the challenges, the potential of the technology to use for biowaste utilisation, and advocates further research.
Key words: Biowaste, Energy, Organic Fertiliser, Ghana
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research problem
1.2 Objective
2. BACKGROUND
2.1 Case Study Area - Ho Municipality
2.1.1 Location and Area
2.1.2 Relief and Drainage
2.1.3 Climate
2.1.4 Population Characteristics
2.2 Waste Challenges in the Ho Township (urban area)
2.2.1 Urban Solid Waste
2.2.2 Sewage and Waste Water
2.2.3 Waste Sorting and Recycling
2.3 Identifying key barriers to economic development in Ho
2.3.1 Energy Shortages
2.3.2 Local Employment
2.4 Key development priorities in Ho
2.4.1 Improvement and Sustenance of Macroeconomic Stability
2.4.2 Enhancing the Municipal Private Sector
2.4.3 Agriculture Modernization and Natural Resource Management
2.4.4 Infrastructure and Human Settlement
2.4.5 Human Development, Productivity and Employment
2.4.6 Transparent And Accountable Governance
3. CASE STUDIES
3.1 Co-composting of faecal sludge and organic solid waste, Kumasi, Ghana
3.1.1 Feedstock and System of Feedstock Collection
3.1.2 Technology and Operational Model
3.1.3 Evaluation
3.2 Faecal Sludge to Energy in Kumasi, Ghana
3.2.1 Feedstock
3.2.2 Technology and Operational Model
3.2.3 Evaluation
3.3 Compost, biogas and biochar in Northern Ghana
3.3.1 Feedstock
3.3.2 Technology and Operational Model
3.3.3 Evaluation
4. FINNISH APPROACHES AND TECHNOLOGIES
4.1 Waste Sorting
4.2 Kujala Industrial Symbiosis
4.3 Lessons learnt from the Finnish case
5. MARKET ANALYSIS
5.1 Political Factors
5.1.1 Political structure and institutions of political power
5.1.2 The Ho Municipal Assembly Administration
5.1.3 Traditional Administration
5.1.4 Role of Non-governmental (NGOs) and other support organizations
5.1.5 Political stability
5.2 Legal Factors
5.2.1 Environmental Policies
5.2.2 Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832)
5.2.3 Legal, institutional and communal settings for composting
5.2.4 Business/trade regulations
5.3 Feedstock and Environment
5.4 Technical
5.4.1 Incineration Plants
5.4.2 Landfilling
5.4.3 Landfill Gas Capture and Flaring
5.4.4 Biogas Plant
5.4.5 Economic and Social Impacts
6. ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL OF PILOTING BIOENERGY GENERATION AND FERTILISER PRODUCTION IN HO TOWNSHIP
6.1 Analysis of Feedback Availability and Potential
6.2 Recommended Technology Options to Consider
6.3 Recommendations for Organization and Planning
7. CONCLUSIONS
SOURCES
APPENDICES
1. INTRODUCTION
According to UNEP (2009), 140 billion metric tons of biomass are generated every year from agricultural and industrial activities worldwide. About 1.3 billion people worldwide either have no access to electricity or rely on the use of non-commercial fuels (IAEA 2009). On the other hand, they suffer the various effects of environmental problems caused by improper waste management. This is most often a problem for developing countries where there may be a lack of adequate waste management, recycling systems and regulating environmental policies.
Uncontrolled waste and wastewater disposal can cause severe problems for health and the environment. Rotten organic biowaste is often disposed off in unsecured open landfills where it emits methane and leachate. When the waste is incinerated in common open fire small-scale incinerations, it generates high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) which contribute to climate change, water and soil contamination and air pollution (Green Choices 2016).
The degradation of this organic biomass may, however, be used to provide energy with the use of standard and appropriate technologies. The organic fractions of domestic wastes from cities can be valuable energy sources.
Organic waste like fecal sludge can be converted to energy and fertilisers using modern treatment technologies. However, the potential for converting the organic domestic waste into bio-energy in developing countries has been inadequately studied and adopted (AETS Consortium, 2013).
Population growth, rural urban migration and industrialization cause a growing generation of urban solid and liquid waste which further complicate conservation plans and waste management. The urban waste generated possesses high value with respect to material and energy recovery. It consists of recyclable material (such as paper, glass, bottles), composite wastes such as textiles and plastics as well as biomass. Biomass is a renewable resource that causes problems when not used. The challenge, therefore, is to utilise biomass as a resource for productive uses (UNEP 2009).
1.1 Research problem
One of the current problems faced in Ghana is the continuous rise in waste generation and the lack of adequate waste management system. Most often urban waste ends up at dump sites and uncontrolled landfills, where it emits dangerous Green House Gases into the atmosphere causing health problems and environmental degradation and pollution. For instance, in the Ho Municipality where an average of 42 tons of solid waste out of 65 tons of waste generated is deposited at the final disposal site, the rest of it finds its way into drains, open spaces and heaps at inadequate sanitary sites (UN-HABITAT 2009).
Ghana depends largely on hydro and thermal power for its energy supply.
However, this energy supply has not kept pace with its increasing demand.
This has given rise to an Energy Crisis characterized by power rationing...
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Item Type: Project Material | Size: 89 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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