Characterization, management and utilization of landfill municipal solid waste : a case study of Soweto

M.Tech.Abstract: The management of solid waste (SW) has become a crucial issue confronting low and middle income countries. This problem emanates from the generation of SW which is currently on a large scale as cities expand. The aims of this study were to determine the composition of the various waste components disposed of to the Marie Louise landfill site (LS), evaluates the elemental composition and proximate analysis of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), conducts an economic analysis of setting up a recycling facility and to finally evaluating the perception of the general public with regards to the current waste management (WM) services in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). The objectives of this study were to determine the various waste components disposed of to the LS as a baseline to propose complete diversion of wastes from going to the LS; to determine the suitability of food waste (FW) generated as a potential source of compost and biogas generation; to carry out an economic evaluation of setting up a recycling facility as a source of revenue to the municipality and potential source of jobs opportunities for the youths in the municipality and finally to assess the level of awareness of the people towards municipal solid waste management (MSWM). The waste composition studies were conducted during the summer in 2015 and during the winter in 2016 at the LS. The results of the analysis were classified into two groups based on two of the services offered by Pikitup (PU) (the municipality) (Dailies non compacted and Round collected refuse (RCR) compacted wastes collection services). STATA 12 software was used to determine seasonal variation on the main components of the wastes generated between the summer and the winter exercises for both services. The results obtained showed that p-values were too extreme (when the null hypothesis is true, the p-value is the probability of obtaining a result equal to or “more extreme” than what was actually observed. The p-values obtained for both the Dailies and for the RCR were (p-value = 0.9775) and (p-value = 0.9760) respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to evaluate seasonal variation in both seasons on both services for the sub-division of the waste streams. Results obtained showed (p-value = 0.9999) for Dailies and (p-value = 0.9913) for RCR. These results show that the differences between the winter and summer for both services were not statistically significant. The elemental composition and proximate analysis of the FW was also evaluated. The analysis gave a C/N of 22.66 and an empirical formula of C27H44NO16. An engineering economic evaluation was conducted to determine the financial feasibility of this project. From the analysis, IRR on investment was found to be 41%, IRR on equity was found to be 80%,.