Abstract
A study was conducted to assess the reuse, recycle, and recoverable potential of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Generation rate, waste type, and physicochemical analysis of MSW were evaluated. Results of MSW analysis indicated that the total amount of MSW generation rate per day at Haramaya University (HU) is estimated to be 2608.56 kg/day. The per capita solid waste generation rate is estimated to be 0.134 kg/cap/day. The three waste categories that contributed the greatest proportion of the total sorted waste at all sources are compostable organic matter (57.31%), papers (16.26%), and fines (10.98%) respectively. These three waste categories accounted for approximately 84.55% of the total waste sorted. The remaining 15.45% of the sorted waste were plastic material (5.82%), miscellaneous (4.45%), cardboards (2.37%), metals (1.30%), glass (0.87%), and textiles (0.63%). The particle size distribution of compostable organic matter is 42.76% (greater than 50 mm), 53.2% (between 10-50 mm), and 4.04% (less than 10 mm). The result shows that a large proportion of compostable organic waste is found in the particle size range of 10-50 mm. The physicochemical composition of selected compostable organic waste was compared with standard values suitable for the composting process. The study further revealed that there has been a generation rate of potentially recyclable were 169.45 tonnes/year papers and carton, 59.49 tonnes/year plastic material, and 11.82 tonnes/year metals (can). These materials should be collected separately (source separation) and can also be a means of income generation to the institute.
Highlights
Human activities generate waste materials that are often discarded because they are considered useless
Even though food leftovers from student cafeteria, student lounge, student cafe, and staff lounge were used as feed for animals in Haramaya University (HU), but other organic wastes were collected and disposed of into open landfills
Paper and cardboard waste generated from offices, classrooms, and libraries were burned in different places on the campuses, which have significant environmental implications. Waste minimization techniques such as recycling, composting, and energy recovery practices were insufficient in the HU
Summary
Human activities generate waste materials that are often discarded because they are considered useless. Reducing the number of wastes that have to be handled, transported and disposed of in a landfill could lead to two main results in a reduction of the institutional expenditure dedicated to waste management and an increase of the useful life of the sanitary landfill. Besides these benefits, a reduction in the amount of waste produced by institutions would have environmental and social benefits [4]. It would be expected that universities would drive the efforts towards responsible waste management It would set an example for the students and the community besides cost reduction for waste management
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