During Sri Lanka's 2022 energy crisis, an innovative solution was developed to combat both plastic pollution and LPG shortages. This approach involved using discarded plastic containers to construct biogas digesters, collectors, and bubblers. Household kitchen waste, which was often improperly disposed of, and plastic waste, including chemical storage containers, were repurposed to produce biogas. This biogas served as a substitute for expensive imported LPG, thereby conserving foreign currency and meeting the country's cooking energy needs. The study targeted 396 randomly selected households that had adapted plastic container biogas digesters. Data were collected using four-stage cluster sampling to obtain cross-sectional information. The first step involved the random selection of 11 districts out of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka. In the second stage, six towns were randomly chosen from each selected district. The third stage involved the random selection of three villages from each town, resulting in a total of 198 villages. Because households in Sri Lanka quickly installed emergency biogas digesters made from plastic containers during the energy crisis of 2022, there wasn't enough time to establish a comprehensive database of digester owners. As a result, the snowball sampling method was used to randomly select two adopters from each village, resulting in a sample size of 396. Through a structured questionnaire, 396 biogas digester adaptor households were identified and interviewed, with the heads of each selected household participating. Moreover, the biogas systems produced biofertilizers for home gardening and farming, providing a triple benefit of energy production, waste management, and agricultural support. The study revealed that a significant number of used plastic containers could be effectively recycled into biogas technologies. These systems provided a renewable cooking fuel, reducing reliance on expensive imported LPG and alleviating economic strain. Moreover, biogas production generated biofertilizers, enhancing the value of these systems for home gardening and farming. The adoption of biogas technology was influenced by household demographics, such as age, education level, occupation, and income. Higher acceptance rates were observed among households with better education and economic stability, highlighting the importance of these factors in promoting sustainable practices. In summary, the research highlights the potential of biogas technology to mitigate energy crises and combat plastic pollution simultaneously, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional cooking fuels. It showcases the adaptability and resilience of local communities in addressing environmental and economic challenges through innovative solutions.

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Kitchen and Plastic Waste Used in Emergency Biogas Plant Construction During 2022 Energy Crisis in Sri Lanka

  • K. J. Sirikumara,
  • S. Khanam

摘要

During Sri Lanka's 2022 energy crisis, an innovative solution was developed to combat both plastic pollution and LPG shortages. This approach involved using discarded plastic containers to construct biogas digesters, collectors, and bubblers. Household kitchen waste, which was often improperly disposed of, and plastic waste, including chemical storage containers, were repurposed to produce biogas. This biogas served as a substitute for expensive imported LPG, thereby conserving foreign currency and meeting the country's cooking energy needs. The study targeted 396 randomly selected households that had adapted plastic container biogas digesters. Data were collected using four-stage cluster sampling to obtain cross-sectional information. The first step involved the random selection of 11 districts out of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka. In the second stage, six towns were randomly chosen from each selected district. The third stage involved the random selection of three villages from each town, resulting in a total of 198 villages. Because households in Sri Lanka quickly installed emergency biogas digesters made from plastic containers during the energy crisis of 2022, there wasn't enough time to establish a comprehensive database of digester owners. As a result, the snowball sampling method was used to randomly select two adopters from each village, resulting in a sample size of 396. Through a structured questionnaire, 396 biogas digester adaptor households were identified and interviewed, with the heads of each selected household participating. Moreover, the biogas systems produced biofertilizers for home gardening and farming, providing a triple benefit of energy production, waste management, and agricultural support. The study revealed that a significant number of used plastic containers could be effectively recycled into biogas technologies. These systems provided a renewable cooking fuel, reducing reliance on expensive imported LPG and alleviating economic strain. Moreover, biogas production generated biofertilizers, enhancing the value of these systems for home gardening and farming. The adoption of biogas technology was influenced by household demographics, such as age, education level, occupation, and income. Higher acceptance rates were observed among households with better education and economic stability, highlighting the importance of these factors in promoting sustainable practices. In summary, the research highlights the potential of biogas technology to mitigate energy crises and combat plastic pollution simultaneously, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional cooking fuels. It showcases the adaptability and resilience of local communities in addressing environmental and economic challenges through innovative solutions.