Towards a Waste Management System for Solar Home Systems in Bangladesh

Abstract

One of the most recognized rural electrification programs in the world is the SHS-Program in Bangladesh. Based on the steadily growing high installation rates of SHS future waste generation was estimated on a country level. In 2012 at least 200,000 lead-acid batteries (LABs) from the SHS-Program were disposed. Lifespan of LABs is the crucial factor for the estimation of future waste generation. Depending on the average lifespan, between 800,000 and 1.2 Million LABs equaling an amount of 6,000 to almost 10,000 metric tons of lead per year is estimated to enter the waste management system of Bangladesh in 2016. Further research on regional levels and mass flows should be conducted to prepare the waste management system of Bangladesh.