Department Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development

General Solid Waste Management

Biowaste Management

Mpanang’ombe, W., Tilley, E., Zabaleta, I., Zurbrügg, C., 2018. A biowaste treatment technology assessment in Malawi. Recycling 3. 

Black Soldier (BSF) Biowaste Processing

Biowaste treatment with black soldier fly larvae: Increasing performance through the formulation of biowastes based on protein and carbohydrates.

Pre-treatment of banana peel to improve composting by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae

Use of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae (BSFL) is among the solutions being explored to shift the value chain in organic waste management by producing valuable products. Although BSFL consume a range of substrates, nutrient-imbalanced materials with high hemicellulose and lignin content, e.g. manure and banana peel, yield low conversion into larval biomass. This study explored pre-treatment methods to improve the nutrient composition and digestibility of banana peel to achieve higher substrate conversion into BSFL biomass. The pre-treatment methods evaluated were microbial, chemical (non-protein nitrogen), heat-based, and combinations of these. All pre-treatments tested except heating resulted in more efficient BSFL conversion in terms of final larvae weight. The low BSFL responses in pre-treatments were caused by the observed high amounts of tannins and phenolic compounds mainly from the heating pre-treatment. Waste to biomass conversion ratio correlated negatively with substrate volatile solids (VS) and positively with the decrease in VS in pre-treatment. Microbial - 14 days pre-treatments provided the optimum pre-treatment time for the microorganisms to achieve maximum degradation of the substrates, facilitating larval assimilation of the released nutrients. Rhizopus oligosporus-14 days and ammonia + Rhizopus resulted in the most efficient BSFL treatment, measured as protein produced per kg incoming material.
Isibika, A.; Vinnerås, B.; Kibazohi, O.; Zurbrügg, C.; Lalander, C. (2019) Pre-treatment of banana peel to improve composting by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae, Waste Management, 100, 151-160, doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2019.09.017, Institutional Repository

Effects of feedstock on larval development and process efficiency in waste treatment with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens)

Global population growth has led to an urgent need for more efficient food production systems. Moreover, as income levels increase, dietary preferences are shifting to more animal-based products. However, current feed protein sources deplete wild fish populations and contribute to rainforest deforestation. Capturing the resources in organic waste could help alleviate environmental impacts of food production. The larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) are ferocious feeders on decomposing organic material and could be used as protein source in animal feed. This study evaluated development of black soldier fly larvae on eight urban organic waste fractions and two control substrates. Principal component analysis was conducted to identify substrate properties that contributed to treatment efficiency and larval development. The main treatment factors found to be affected by substrate were waste-to-biomass conversion ratio, larval development time and final prepupal weight. The substrate properties with the greatest impact on biomass conversion ratio and larval development time were content of total volatile solids and protein content, while only total volatile solids content affected final prepupal weight. It was concluded that black soldier fly larvae are versatile in their feedstock preferences and can be used to treat a variety of organic waste streams, provided that the total volatile solids and nitrogen content are sufficiently high to support larval development. Abattoir waste, food waste, human faeces and a mixture of abattoir waste e fruits & vegetables are waste streams that are highly suitable for fly larvae treatment.
Lalander, C.; Diener, S.; Zurbrügg, C.; Vinnerås, B. (2019) Effects of feedstock on larval development and process efficiency in waste treatment with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 211-219, doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.017, Institutional Repository

Faecal sludge management with the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) - From a hygiene aspect. Science of The Total Environment. Volumes 458–460.
C. Lalander, S. Diener, M. E. Magri, C. Zurbrügg, A. Lindström, B, Vinnerås (2013).

Anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste

General Publications

Africa

India

Nepal

    Carbonisation of urban biowaste

    Decentralized composting

    Decentralised composting in Bangladesh, a win-win situation for all stakeholders
    C. Zurbrügg, S. Drescher, I. Rytz, A.H. Md. M. Sinha, I. Enayetullah (2004)

    The paper describes experiences of Waste Concern, a research based Non-Governmental Organisation, with a community-based decentralised composting project in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

    Co-composting of organic waste and faecal sludge

    • Decentralised Co-Digestion of Faecal Sludge with Organic Solid Waste. Case Study in Maseru, Lesotho C. Müller (2009). This study evaluates the biogas plants installed in Maseru, Lesotho, by TED-Borda. These biogas plants treat mainly human faeces, but also kitchen and garden waste and animal manure.[4.09MB]
    • Co-Composting Reduces Helminth Eggs in Faecal Sludge K. Gallizzi (2003). Results of monitoring the faecal sludge/solid waste pilot co-composting scheme at Buobai, Kumasi (Ghana) for helminth egg removal. Field report.[593KB]
    • Nitrogen in Co-compost and other chemical compost analyses M. Tanner (2003). Results of monitoring the faecal sludge/solid waste pilot co-composting scheme at Buobai, Kumasi (Ghana) for physico-chemical parameters, notably nitrogen. Field report. [739KB]
    • Co-composting of Faecal Sludge and Municipal Organic Waste M. Strauss, S. Drescher, C. Zurbrügg, A. Montangero, O. Cofie, P. Drechsel (2003). The review sets out to describe the resource potential of faecal sludge (FS) and organic municipal solid waste (MSW); introduces meaningful characteristics of FS and MSW, and describes options for FS and organic MSW treatment, of which the combined composting (co-composting) constitutes one. The relevant process design and operational parameters for composting and co-composting are discussed. The documents also reports on cases and practices as retrieved from published and grey literature. Open questions are identified and proposals for further field research given.[1.21MB]

    Market demand for compost from organic waste

    Organic matter from landfills

    • Benefits and Risk of the Use of Organic Matter from Asmara Landfill in Agriculture S. Drescher, B. Abraha, Dr. W. Ogbazghi, Dr. M. Tesfai, S. Mehari, T. Kubrom (2004). This workshop report contains the core findings of the study presented to an audience of stakeholders and decision-makers in Asmara. The study comprises technical and socio-economic aspects. It presents the role of visible pollutants, heavy metal content and nutrient content of the material as well as the perceptions of farmers who use the material. The report shows the responses of different stakeholders on the issue and an outlook on further activities. [1.34MB]

    Community-based involvement in solid waste management

    • Determinants of resilience in community‐led waste managementCh. Zurbrügg, S. Rothenberger (2013). The study identifies and analyses the driving forces, factors of sustainability as well as internal and external factors which influence failure or success of solid waste community‐based initiatives in India.[209KB]
    • Enhancing Community Motivation and Participation in Solid Waste Management C. Zurbrügg, R. Ahmed (1999). Sandec News No. 4 - This Sandec News article describes a pilot project in Shah Rasool Colony a low income community in Karachi Pakistan where the community initiated a community based primary collection scheme for their neighborhood.[367KB]
    • Informing, Educating and Motivating Community Members C. Zurbrügg, R. Ahmed (1998). This paper was presented at the Third Swedish Landfill Research Symposia in October 1998 in Lulea, Sweden. It describes a pilot project undertaken in Shah Rasool Colony a low income community in Karachi Pakistan. The project involved an information, education campaign to motivate the community members to initiate a primary waste collection scheme, managed by the community itself.[172KB]

    Recycling of non-organic solid waste

    Waste Collection

    • Domestic Refuse Collection in Low Income Urban Areas R. Ahmed, S. Kaukab, R. Schertenleib (1998). The paper presented at the WEDC conference in Islamabad in 1998 describes a project in a slum of Karachi, Pakistan. It covers the issues and experiences with the IEM approach (Information, Education, Motivation) in involving communities in solid waste management with community based schemes. [39KB]
    • Non-Governmental Refuse Collection in Low-Income Urban Areas R. Pfammatter, R. Schertenleib (1996). This report aims at summarising some of the experience gained with non-governmental refuse collection operated by communities or small private enterprises. Several Annexes provide Checklists, Model Contracts and Selected Cases. [5.05MB]