Urban waste management : the potential of household refuse for use in food and fuel production in Nairobi

Njenga, BK

Abstract

Urban waste management poses problems in all cities of the world, but it also provides
opportunities for innovative resource use. The Thesis begins by defining the waste
management problem of Nairobi in context and then analytically reviews the
international status of waste management, contrasting the circumstances in developed
economies with those in Tropical Africa. An investigation of household refuse in
Nairobi, exploring its embodied energy and its value for composting follows as the
focus of the Thesis. Typical households were surveyed in relation to their waste
management behaviour and agricultural activities. An attempt was made to analyse the
physical and chemical composition of household refuse as well as its energy value. In
addition to household surveys, a senior local government official and waste disposal
crews were interviewed in order to ascertain current policies and management
practices in the handling of waste. Particular attention was paid to the Eastlands area
of the City. Ways in which refuse is incorporated into the food and energy cycles were
identified. Among the important factors discerned are the role of family structure and
the economic position of households. The validity of the research is discussed and
recommendations are made for the future of waste management in relation to energy
and food production in Nairobi. The findings of the research should have wide
application in other African countries.

Citation

Njenga, B. Urban waste management : the potential of household refuse for use in food and fuel production in Nairobi. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 1998