Title: The potential of GHG emission savings for programmatic CDM by municipal solid waste composting in the Western Province - Sri Lanka

Authors: V.K.D.H. Kariyakarawana; N.J.G.J. Bandara; S. Leelarathne

Addresses: Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka ' Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka ' Western Province Waste Management Authority, Shrawasti Mandiraya, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka

Abstract: The Western Province (WP) of Sri Lanka, as the most populated province in the country is burdened with a high level of municipal solid waste generation. Out of the 48 administrative local authorities within the WP, only 16 local authorities are practicing municipal solid waste composting. All other local authorities are practicing the most common method of MSW disposal; open dumping. The study was aimed at finding the potential of green house gas emission savings by municipal solid waste composting according to Programmatic Clean Development Mechanism in 32 local authorities of the WP which are not currently practicing MSW composting in order to quantify the certified emission reduction. The daily collection rate of municipal solid waste in the entire WP is around 2,000 tons per day. Biodegradable portion dominates the bulk of municipal solid waste in WP as about 76.30%. There is potential of claiming 231 certified emission reductions annually with regard to MSW composting within the WP.

Keywords: clean development mechanism; pCDM; programmatic CDM; climate change; global warming; greenhouse gasses; GHG emissions; municipal solid waste; MSW composting; Sri Lanka.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2014.061788

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2014 Vol.17 No.2/3/4, pp.179 - 190

Received: 04 Feb 2013
Accepted: 28 Jul 2013
Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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