Spatial Distribution and Resource Mobilization of Waste for a Hybrid Waste-to-Energy Plant in Ghana

Waste generation is an essential characteristic of human activities as long as human continues to engage in economic activities and has become a major concern. In the context of circular economy, efficiency and energy security, it is fundamental to develop alternative energies that meet the needs of both the energy supply and sustainable development. Municipal solid waste generation is ascending and potentially capable of generating energy, thus they can serve as an alternative fuel for generating energy. This work aims to assess the potential bio-waste in terms of quality and quantity for energy generation using municipal solid waste waste, as well as mapping waste production within 30 km radius of the plant environs. The results show that the total amount of expected MSW corresponds to 51.34 tonnes daily based on per capita waste generation of 0.47 kg/day, however, only 16.62% of the expected waste generated daily is collected with the remaining waste either unofficially collected or indiscriminately disposed. With regards to quality of the waste, it was revealed that an organic waste, approximately 39% represented the major waste component and 18% plastic of the MSW generated in the municipality. Further analysis indicated that 20 MMDAs were identified within the 30 km radius of the plant location with all most populated MMDAs within the buffer zone. The immediate MMDAs that border the project site constituted 19.8% of the population translating to approximately 189 and 72 tonnes of organic and plastic waste generation daily, respectively. Notwithstanding, about 12% each of these organic waste fraction and plastic waste is available daily for collection based on the official waste data. The analysis further showed that the feedstock needed for the biogas and pyrolysis plants could be accessed within a maximum transportation distance radius of 5 – 10 km with an additional 22 and 9 tonnes of organic and plastic waste, respectively. The analysis presented in this paper provides a true reflection of the waste generation vis-a-vis collection models and their potential for energy generation in MMDAs in Ghana, which could be used for similar communities in developing countries.