Abstract:
Dhaka is one of the fastest growing mega cities of the world. Generation of large
volume of solid waste in urban areas is creating environmental problem in Dhaka
city. Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), responsible for management of solid waste of
Dhaka, is inefficient and its services are unsatisfactory. Presently, improper
dumping of huge amount of urban solid waste causes serious environmental and
health hazards.
This research is aimed at investigating the generation pattern and characteristic of
domestic solid waste and microbial quality of the compost samples collected from
the Box-composting pilot plant located at Green Road Staff Quarter and Barrel type
composting system in Mirpur slum. The assessment was carried out on
microbiological and physico-chemical characteristic of compost at different stages
of maturation.
The research finding indicates that daily solid waste generation rate per households
in Green Road area is higher (about 2.68 kglhousehold ) than solid waste generated
from slum household (0.59 kg/household). The physical composition of domestic
solid waste reveals that organic part (i.e., food waste) generation is higher for slum
people in Mirpur (93%) than that of Green Road dwellers (80%). Laboratory
analysis reveals that highest number of total coliform 6.Ox102cfulg is found in raw
solid waste sample and their population decreases during maturity process. The
number of "faecal streptococci shows a -district decrease from 2.Ox102cfulg to nil
during the thermophilic phase (60 to 65°C). Experimental results also indicate that
highest Faecal Coliform count in the raw solid waste sample and nil in the finished
compost samples. The physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, moisture
content, pH, C/N ratio during composting are found similar for both composting
systems. Field survey also reveals that there is renewed public interest in
composting for safe and easy disposal of waste and attainment of favorable
economics by selling the produced compost. Therefore, composting of solid waste
brings in environmental and financial benefits and offset the costs of collection and
processing and management of solid waste.
