Title: Assessing Municipal Solid Wastes (MSWs) for composting programmes in rapidly urbanising areas: a case study from Accra, Ghana

Authors: Julius N. Fobil, Derick Carboo, Daniel K. Attuquayefio, Frederick K. Rodrigues, Sybill Sory

Addresses: Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Ghana. ' Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG56, Legon, Ghana. ' Department of Zoology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG67, Legon, Ghana. ' Department of Biochemistry, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG54, Legon, Ghana. ' School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG13, Legon, Ghana

Abstract: A complete understanding of all physico-chemical and biochemical attributes of waste stream materials is necessary for successful implementation of waste management programmes in given context because of their influence on the behaviour of these materials in the natural environment. This paper discusses these properties of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to gauge its suitability for sustainable composting programmes in Accra, a rapidly urbanising city. The results showed that the MSW was very wet at 60% moisture content by weight. Additionally, the proportion of the biologically originated carbon was considerably high compared with nitrogen thus giving high values of carbon to nitrogen (C : N) ratios (i.e., roughly 27 : 1-100 : 1). The percentage composition of materials ranged 55-65% and 40-45% for compostable and combustible materials, respectively. In conclusion, the MSW in the metropolis could be a good candidate for successful composting programmes if social and economic factors were conducive.

Keywords: physical attributes; biochemical parameters; biologically originated carbon; C : N ratio; nitrogen; municipal authority; compostable materials; municipal solid wastes; solid waste management; Accra; Ghana; rapid urbanisation; composting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2010.033981

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2010 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.25 - 40

Published online: 06 Jul 2010 *

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