Abstract
Despite many composting initiatives implemented in recent years throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, there is yet a lack of data on material flows and the potential contribution of decentralized composting towards greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. This study fills this gap assessing flows, emissions reduction and other environmental benefits of decentralized composting, based on a pilot composting facility implemented in the municipality of Tiassalé in Côte d’Ivoire. Primary data collected at the site were visualized with the STAN version 2.6 software developed at the Vienna University of Technology (Austria), for material flows, while carbon emissions reduction was estimated using the UNFCCC methods. Results show that in 2017, from the 59.4 metric tons of organic waste processed by this pilot station, 14.2 metric tons of mature compost was produced, which correspond to 24% of the input mass (on wet weight basis). On dry weight basis, mature compost represents 36% of the input mass. The nutrient content of the compost is in line with data from literature on sub-Saharan African compost, and heavy metal contamination fulfils both French and German compost standards. Concerning the GHG emissions reduction potential, the results show that with this composting scenario, 87% of the baseline emissions occurring in open dumping can be avoided.
Highlights
In the last decade, urbanization and population growth led to a significant increase of waste generation [1,2,3]
This study aimed at assessing the material flows and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential of a pilot decentralized composting plant in Côte d’Ivoire, treating source-separated organic waste
This study focused on a pilot decentralized composting plant in Tiassalé, a city of 20,057 inhabitants located about 130 km from Abidjan, the economic capital city of Ivory Coast
Summary
Urbanization and population growth led to a significant increase of waste generation [1,2,3]. The collection, transport and processing of these growing quantities remain a major problem in many countries, especially in low- and middle-income countries where waste collection rate is generally below 50% [4,5]. The consequences of this poor management are twofold; on one hand, uncollected waste accumulates in drains, on roads and open public spaces, contributing to floods, air pollution and the spread of disease vectors [5,6]. Public Health 2020, 17, 7229; doi:10.3390/ijerph17197229 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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