Energy potential of Municipal Solid Waste in Kampala, a Case Study of Kiteezi Landfill Site

Abstract

Less than 10% of the population have access to electrical and thermal energy in Uganda and there is a heavy dependence on wood fuel as a source of energy. In this study, the energy potential of Municipal Solid Waste at Kiteezi landfill, Kampala was qualitatively determined by carrying out Municipal solid waste (MSW) characterization, proximate analysis, and calorific value measurements. The samples were picked on different days and for each day, waste was randomly selected from five garbage trucks coming from residential areas (private trucks) and commercial areas (Kampala City Council Authority trucks). It was then sorted, weighed and packed in polythene bags and take to the laboratoty for analysis. Waste from the commercial areas consisted of 87.3 % food and yard waste, 2.0% papers, 0.4% plastics, 3.6% polyethylene, 2.2% water bottles, 0.9% textiles, 1.9% Glass, 0.2% metals, and 1.6% others. Whereas the waste from residential areas comprised of 94.4% food and yard waste, 1.2% papers, 0.3% plastics, 2.3% polyethylene, 0.6% water bottles, 0.4% textiles, 0.3% Glass, 0.1% metals, and 0.4% others. The organic waste on average had moisture content (8.69 wt. %), volatile matter (73.3 wt. %), fixed carbon (3.22 wt. %), and ash content (13.65 wt. %) on a dry basis. The organic waste also had a gross energy content of 19.26 MJ/Kg of dry matter. It was concluded that the organic waste generated in Kampala city can contribute positively to the energy sector.