Physico-chemical analysis of municipal solid waste(MSW) in the Accra Metropolis

Abstract

Solid waste management programmes are driven by adesire to keep clean environment in the hope of promoting sound environmental quality and public health. Good solid waste management programmes rely upon a complete understanding of both physical and chemical attributes of the waste materials, which in turn govern their behaviour in the natural environment. These physico-chemical parameters, therefore, serve as proxy indicators of which waste management options would be most suitable for adoption in the implementation of an integrated municipal solid waste programme for a given community. The study was, therefore, undertaken to generate scientific information on both the physical and chemical composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the Accra Metropolis. The results showed that the MSW in the city was very wet with an average moisture value of60% by weight of fresh wastes and calorific values ranging between 14.0-19.5 MJ/kg. The results also showed that the C:N ratios in the waste components were inthe range of27: 1-100: 1, and that these physical and chemical properties were very variable amongst the various waste components and among the waste zones. These results indicated that the MSW in the metropolis might be agood candidate for composting programmes and that waste-to-energy conversion by incineration might not be economically viable.