Comparison of Environmental Performance of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Chemical Fertilizer

Abstract

Addis Ababa city is undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization where solid waste generation is also increasing at the same pace. It would be difficult to continue with the current landfilling waste disposal in the city. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the positive environmental effect of municipal solid waste (MSW) composting and its environmental effect over the synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer; (ii) compare the environmental performance of MSW compost and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. We investigated the application of MSW effects on selected soil properties, wheat yield and yield components and leachate chemistry. Application of MSW composts to the soil also increased soil total nitrogen (Nt), organic C, available P, pH, and other micronutrients. Similarly, the application of both MSW compost and N-fertilizer produced higher concentrations of NO3-N fluxes in the collected leachate that clearly showed fertilization during application poses serious threat to water quality in the absence of growing plants. In general, both MSW compost and N-fertilizer applications had positively responded in improving wheat yield and yield components. The results of the present study revealed that using MSW as a soil amendment after appropriate composting techniques and soil management not only improve soil fertility and reduce the investment on chemical fertilizers but also can alleviate the contribution of MSW to environmental pollution.