Using Anaerobic Digesters as a Sustainable Approach in Creating Sustainable Cities in Egypt

Abstract

The first digestion plant was built in Bombay, India, in 1859. But since 1895, anaerobic digestion has been used to recover gas as a waste management system in England. Anaerobic digesters are one of the most well-known systems that are used worldwide to get rid of waste and generate energy, yet they have never been employed in Egypt. This research aims to determine the economic, social, and environmental impacts of anaerobic digesters in Egyptian cities and districts. From an economic perspective, the study estimates the energy produced from storing organic wastes in anaerobic digesters, using a quantitative approach to measure the efficiency of anaerobic digesters in Egyptian districts. In this study, the data were collected using surveys among residents and cleaners in the study area. The information gathered in this study was used to estimate the amount of organic waste (OW) produced by area 4 El-korba in Heliopolis, which will be stored in an anaerobic digester (AD) and used to generate heat, electricity, and fertilizer. In terms of social impact, the study relied on a site questionnaire to measure the impact of waste accumulation on the Egyptians. The aim of this paper is to study the storage of the OW collected from El Korba district in AD and how it can save electricity consumed by the district residential sector. Finally, the study applied a quantitative method to measure the amount of waste disposed of and burned in one Egyptian district from an environmental standpoint.