Electricity Generation Potential of Municipal Solid Waste of Nepal and GHG Mitigations

Abstract

Abstract:This research is carried out to assess the current status of municipal solid waste of municipalities of Nepal and its potential for energy recovery. During the year 2016, solid waste samples were collected by door-to-door collection method and the total energy content of the municipal waste was calculated using Bomb Calorimeter in the laboratory. During the study period, the total waste generated at Kathmandu metropolitan city was 566 tons per day with 0.3 kg per capita contribution. The major waste constituent was the organic with 67.77% of the total waste volume. Other bulk wastes were plastic and paper constituting 10% and 5% by volume respectively. Rest of the wastes (8%) was categorized as "other". In average, the total moisture content in the wastes was 49.93%. Total waste generation of all municipalities was found 1435 tons per day. The calorific value of the plastic wastes had highest energy content (40.61 MJ/kg). The organic (15.68 MJ/kg) and paper (15.61MJ/kg) wastes had similar energy content while the other wastes had slightly higher energy content (17.57MJ/kg). The net energy available and, thus, lost after dumping of the solid waste was 71,895,056 MJ which is equivalent to 4262 MWh which can run 52 MW plasma arc gasification power plant. The waste to energy potential of Kathmandu Metropolitan city was found to be 19 MW. Total reduction in GHG emission was found 220,690 kg CO 2 eq kg per day.

Solid waste management in Belbari Municipality, Morang, Province 1, Nepal

“…In Kathmandu Valley, Key household waste constituents included 71% organic wastes, 12% plastics, 7.5% paper and paper products, 5% dirt and construction debris and 1% hazardous wastes (Dangi et al 2011). The next study in Kathmandu valley showed that the major waste constituent was the organic with 67.77% of the total waste volume and 32.23% non biodegradable (Sodari & Nakarmi, 2018).…”

“…The appropriate MSW moisture content is found to be lower than 20-25% in China. In Kathmandu valley in average, the total moisture content in the wastes was 49.93% (Sodari & Nakarmi, 2018).…”

Policy Measures, Practices and Challenges of Waste-to-Energy: Perspectives from Nigeria and Nepal

“…A study found the heat content of waste generated in Kathmandu as less than 4.8 MJ/kg which makes it unsuitable to generate energy using incineration in KMC (Lohani et al, 2021). The plasma arc technology is the best technology to generate waste-to-energy in Nepal compared to pyrolysis, gasification and incineration with the lowest payback period (Sodari and Nakarmi, 2018). Nepal has a long history of generating biogas at household and community levels from cow dung for the last 48 years.…”

Waste to energy in Kathmandu Nepal—A way toward achieving sustainable development goals

“…Some member countries still dispose of more than 80% of their waste directly to the landfill without any energy recovery (Hollins et al, 2017), the situations of developing countries are obviously no better than the developed countries. In KMC, almost all collected solid waste is landfilled without segregation, making it difficult to recover energy (Lohani, Satyal, Timilsina, Parajuli, & Dhital, 2012;Sodari & Nakarmi, 2018;Taleghani & Kia, 2005).…”