Exploring compost production potential and its economic benefits and greenhouse gas mitigation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

The increasing amount of municipal organic waste (MOW) and human excreta (HE) has led to socio-economic and environmental challenges in the cities of developing countries. This study estimated MOW and HE, compost production potential from MOW and HE, and compost application potential for urban agriculture fertilization, economic benefits, soil carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the period 2025–2050. MOW was forecasted using the Holt-Winters forecasting model. HE was estimated using the daily average rate of HE generation. The compost production potential was estimated using the forecasted MOW and HE. Compost fertilization was determined by considering compost nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and the fertilizer requirements of cereals and vegetables. The economic benefits of compost were determined by considering the price of compost-equivalent urea, NPS, and potassium chloride fertilizers. The mitigation of GHG emissions from compost application was estimated using the IPCC Tier 1 method. The forecasted quantities of MOW, HE, and compost for 2050 are 301, 462, and 343 Gg, respectively. The compost could supply 5 Gg of N and 2.2 Gg of P in 2050, sufficient to fertilize 14,129 ha of vegetable fields. The economic benefits of using compost as a substitute for synthetic fertilizers could reach 10 million USD in 2050. Compost production and application could offset the total GHG emissions of Addis Ababa by 13.1 % (10,241Gg CO2-eq year−1) in 2050. The application of compost generated from MOW and HE in Addis Ababa can substitute synthetic fertilizers, provide economic benefits, and mitigate GHG emissions.