Experimental study of urban waste composting and evaluation of its agricultural valorization in Lomé (Togo)

Abstract

This study concerns waste processing by composting in Lomé (Togo). It presents the composition of this waste, the treatment by composting of this waste recovered in the centers of transit and collected within individual households, an evaluation of its use as a fertilizer and finally a market research to determine its economic value. The composition of the Municipal Solid Waste showed that even though mineral components like sand and gravel represent the most important part of the waste arriving at the final dump location, organic material makes up a large part of households wastes. In order to determine the optimal conditions for composting biodegradable materials and for the overall process, a study was launched at a transfer site within a district of Lomé. Four types of compost were investigated, two with organics collected directly in households and two with raw waste stored at transfer sites that had been collected by a non-governmental organization in charge of primary collection. Amendment of the compost with natural fertilizer, natural phosphate and chicken manure was also tested. It was found that the quality of the types of compost was quite similar except for the one in which natural phosphate and manure had been added. Studies on the toxicity of the types of compost on their agricultural effectiveness and their economic value were also carried out. The market research demonstrated that the production costs of the compost were low enough to make it an attractive and potentially profitable alternative to existing fertilizers such as manure. © 2011 Knowledgia Review, Malaysia.