Recovering and Reusing Resources in Urbanized Ecosystems

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/34638

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 135

Market adoption and diffusion of fecal sludge-based fertilizer in developing countries: crosscountry analyses
(Report, 2018) Otoo, Miriam; Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.; Danso, G.; Amewu, Sena; Amirova, Iroda
The safe recovery of nutrients from our waste streams allows us to address the challenges of waste management and soil nutrient depletion conjointly. Commercialization of waste-based organic fertilizers such as FortiferTM (fecal sludge-based co-compost) has the potential to generate significant benefits for developing economies via cost recovery for the sanitation sector and the provision of an alternative agricultural input for smallholder farmers. To guide future FortiferTM businesses, this report presents examples of detailed market assessments, based on farmers’ perceptions, attitudes and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a pelletized and non-pelletized FortiferTM co-compost. The research was conducted in the Greater Accra and Western regions in Ghana, and in and around Kampala (Uganda), Bangalore (India), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Kurunegala (Sri Lanka). Cross-country analyses helped to understand the effects of market drivers and, where possible, capture lessons learned for knowledge sharing.
Financing resource recovery and reuse in developing and emerging economies: enabling environment, financing sources and cost recovery
(Report, 2018) Lazurko, Anita; Drechsel, Pay; Hanjra, Munir A.
Resource recovery and reuse (RRR) of domestic and agro-industrial waste has the potential to contribute to a number of financial, socioeconomic and environmental benefits. However, despite these benefits and an increasing political will, there remain significant barriers to build the required up-front capital which is discouraging private sector engagement. A systematic analysis and understanding of the enabling environment, public and private funding sources, risk-sharing mechanisms and pathways for cost recovery can help to identify opportunities to improve the viability of RRR solutions. This report looks at regulations and policies that remove disincentives for RRR, public and private funding sources for capital and operational costs, risk mitigation options through blending and structuring finance, and options for operational cost recovery.
Recovering bioenergy in Sub-Saharan Africa: gender dimensions, lessons and challenges
(Report, 2018) Njenga, M.; Mendum, R.
There is a strong link between gender and energy in view of food preparation and the acquisition of fuel, especially in rural areas. This is demonstrated in a range of case studies from East and West Africa, where biochar, human waste and other waste resources have been used to produce briquettes or biogas as additional high-quality fuel sources. The synthesis of the cases concludes that resource recovery and reuse for energy offers an alternative to conventional centralized grid projects which, while attractive to investors and large-scale enterprises, do not necessarily provide job opportunities for marginalized communities. Reusing locally available waste materials for energy production and as soil ameliorant (in the case of biochar) in small enterprises allows women and youth who lack business capital to begin modest, locally viable businesses. The case studies offer concrete examples of small-scale solutions to energy poverty that can make a significant difference to the lives of women and their communities.
Suitability of local resource management practices based on supernatural enforcement mechanisms in the local social-cultural context
(Journal Article, 2012) Sasaoka, M.; Laumonier, Y.
Resource recovery from waste: business models for energy, nutrient and water reuse in low- and middle-income countries
(Book, 2018) Otoo, Miriam; Drechsel, Pay
Pulling the chain
(Poster, 2017) CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems
The role of private sector in city region food systems
(Report, 2016) Dubbeling, Marielle; Carey, J.; Hochberg, K.
Foodsheds and city region food systems in two West African cities
(Journal Article, 2016) Karg, Hanna; Drechsel, Pay; Akoto-Danso, Edmund K.; Glaser, Rüdiger; Nyarko, George; Buerkert, Andreas
In response to changing urban food systems, short supply chains have been advocated to meet urban food needs while building more sustainable urban food systems. Despite an increasing interest in urban food supply and the flows of food from production to consumption, there is a lack of empirical studies and methodologies which systematically analyse the actual proportion and nutritional significance of local and regional food supplied to urban markets. The aim of this empirical study therefore was to compare the geographical sources supplying food to the urban population (“foodsheds”) in Tamale, Ghana and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to record the supplied quantities and to assess the level of interaction between the sources and the respective city. The study was conducted over two years, covering the seasons of abundant and short supply, via traffic surveys on the access roads to the two cities, and in the Tamale markets, resulting altogether in more than 40,000 records of food flow. Results indicated that food sources were highly crop- and season-specific, ranging from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional foodsheds with diverse sources across seasons. Across the commodity-specific foodsheds, city region boundaries were established. Within the proposed city region a relatively large proportion of smallholders contributed to urban food supply, taking advantage of the proximity to urban markets. While food provided from within the city region offers certain place-based benefits, like the provision of fresh perishable crops, a larger geographical diversity of foodsheds appeared to enhance the resilience of urban food systems, such as against climate related production failures.
Recycling and reuse of treated wastewater in urban India: a proposed advisory and guidance document
(Report, 2016) World Bank; International Water Management Institute
Recycling and reuse of treated wastewater are an important part of the sanitation cycle and critical in an environment such as urban India with decreasing freshwater availability and increasing costs for delivering acceptable quality water, often from far distance. This report has been developed as a possible guidance document for the Indian government and gives substantial focus to the financial and economic benefits of wastewater recycling from the perspective of public spending. The report presents possible strategies for city and state planners and policymakers in view of the sanitation situation and the role of wastewater recycling in the larger cities in India (class I and II cities and towns with populations above 50,000), and focuses on recycling at the end of sewerage systems after treatment at sewage treatment plants.
Total value of phosphorus recovery
(Journal Article, 2016-07-05) Mayer, B.K.; Baker, L.A.; Boyer, T.H.; Drechsel, Pay; Gifford, M.; Hanjra, Munir A.
Phosphorus (P) is a critical, geographically concentrated, nonrenewable resource necessary to support global food production. In excess (e.g., due to runoff or wastewater discharges), P is also a primary cause of eutrophication. To reconcile the simultaneous shortage and overabundance of P, lost P flows must be recovered and reused, alongside improvements in P-use efficiency. While this motivation is increasingly being recognized, little P recovery is practiced today, as recovered P generally cannot compete with the relatively low cost of mined P. Therefore, P is often captured to prevent its release into the environment without beneficial recovery and reuse. However, additional incentives for P recovery emerge when accounting for the total value of P recovery. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the range of benefits of recovering P from waste streams, i.e., the total value of recovering P. This approach accounts for P products, as well as other assets that are associated with P and can be recovered in parallel, such as energy, nitrogen, metals and minerals, and water. Additionally, P recovery provides valuable services to society and the environment by protecting and improving environmental quality, enhancing efficiency of waste treatment facilities, and improving food security and social equity. The needs to make P recovery a reality are also discussed, including business models, bottlenecks, and policy and education strategies.
Business models for fecal sludge management
(Report, 2016) Rao, Krishna C.; Kvarnstrom, E.; Mario, L. di; Drechsel, Pay
On-site sanitation systems, such as septic tanks and pit latrines, are the predominant feature across rural and urban areas in most developing countries. However, their management is one of the most neglected sanitation challenges. While under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the set-up of toilet systems received the most attention, business models for the sanitation service chain, including pit desludging, sludge transport, treatment and disposal or resource recovery, are only emerging. Based on the analysis of over 40 fecal sludge management (FSM) cases from Asia, Africa and Latin America, this report shows opportunities as well as bottlenecks that FSM is facing from an institutional and entrepreneurial perspective.
Designing local policies and economic instruments to enhance waste management in Bayawan city, Philippines
(Journal Article, 2015) Paul, Johannes G.; Boorsma, J.D.; Sarana, G.; Bollos, I.
To establish and operate reliable Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems, efficient technologies, stable organizational structures, skilled personnel, sound operational management and appropriate financing concepts are required. In order to sustain such systems, the implementation of suited legal framework conditions and economical instruments are considered as key success factors. Proper financial management allows to determine the real costs of SWM and to design local policies that provide the needed mechanisms to conduct Solid Waste Management on community level and to formulate rules and user fees that are not only acceptable by residents and users but likewise secure participation of stakeholders and transparency for the public [1, 3]. As in other developing countries, financing SWM remains a severe issue also in the Philippines. Cost recovery is an important requirement for sustainable waste management, but it does not always correspond with political priorities, the willingness of the population or the capacities of the administration to implement it. Fees to cover SWM costs are either not asked for, or existing fee mechanism are not effectively implemented or being utilized by the authorities in charge. However, policies that address cost recovery will directly affect the capacity and willingness of service recipients to pay as well as the maximum level of refinancing that can be achieved. The lower the level of cost recovery, the higher the resulting risk of poor services rendered or ultimately service interruptions. Hence, sustainable financing of SWM by local means is imperative. In Bayawan City, Philippines the local government recognized the opportunities arising with establishing a new SWM system as required by national waste legislation [5]. During SWM planning various issues surfaced that were taken up by the local authorities to design 'taylor-made' new local policies that integrate cost recovery mechanism through user fees and revenues for material recovery. Main positive effects of cost recovery resulted from introduction of a prepaid sticker system that requests to pre-pay a fee for collection of residual waste and bio-waste. Besides, the introduction of an environmental fee claimed with the regular water bill propelled cost recovery from initial 3% to more than 15% of annual SWM budget after only 3 years operation of the new system whereas income for the latter is mainly used for cleaning of septic tanks and processing of recovered sludge at the newly established municipal waste management center. Results of this case underline that enhancing SWM systems is possible also in developing countries with innovative technologies and approaches that integrate local conditions and provide suited mechanism to enhance motivation and ownership of local decision-makers and users likewise [2-4].
Examining food sources in the city of Tamale, Ghana
(Journal Article, 2015) Karg, H.; Akoto-Danso, Edmund K.; Drechsel, Pay
This empirical study examines food sources and their quantitative contribution to the city of Tamale, Ghana. The results contribute to an understanding of the urban food system, and evoke questions relating to the standardised measurement and evaluation of urban food system resilience across geographical contexts.
Zero risk does not exist: lessons learned from microbial risk assessment related to use of water and safety of fresh produce
(Journal Article, 2015-07) Keuckelaere, A. de; Jacxsens, L.; Amoah, Philip; Medema, G.; McClure, P.; Jaykus, L.-A.; Uyttendaele, M.
Risk assessments related to use of water and safety of fresh produce originate from both water and food microbiology studies. Although the set-up and methodology of risk assessment in these 2 disciplines may differ, analysis of the current literature reveals some common outcomes. Most of these studies from the water perspective focus on enteric virus risks, largely because of their anticipated high concentrations in untreated wastewater and their resistance to common wastewater treatments. Risk assessment studies from the food perspective, instead, focus mainly on bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella and pathogenic Escherichia coli. Few site-specific data points were available for most of these microbial risk assessments, meaning that many assumptions were necessary, which are repeated in many studies. Specific parameters lacking hard data included rates of pathogen transfer from irrigation water to crops, pathogen penetration, and survival in or on food crops. Data on these factors have been investigated over the last decade and this should improve the reliability of future microbial risk estimates. However, the sheer number of different foodstuffs and pathogens, combined with water sources and irrigation practices, means that developing risk models that can span the breadth of fresh produce safety will be a considerable challenge. The new approach using microbial risk assessment is objective and evidence-based and leads to more flexibility and enables more tailored risk management practices and guidelines. Drawbacks are, however, capacity and knowledge to perform the microbial risk assessment and the need for data and preferably data of the specific region.
Energy recovery from domestic and agro-waste streams in Uganda: a socioeconomic assessment
(Report, 2016) Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.; Amewu, Sena; Taron, Avinandan; Otoo, Miriam
Recovering energy from waste offers dual benefits – a) improved waste management, and b) provision of reliable energy to households, institutions and commercial entities. In this report, we present a socioeconomic assessment of three energy business models (briquette manufacturing, on-site (public toilet) energy generation, and agro-waste electricity generation) based on feasibility studies carried out in the city of Kampala, Uganda. We assess the potential economic, environmental and social impacts of waste-to-energy business models taking into consideration a life cycle of emissions to provide decision makers with the overall costs and benefits of the models to society versus a business-as-usual scenario.
Testing the implementation potential of resource recovery and reuse business models: from baseline surveys to feasibility studies and business plans
(Report, 2016) Otoo, Miriam; Drechsel, Pay; Danso, George K.; Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.; Rao, Krishna; Madurangi, Ganesha
Consumer preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana
(Conference Paper, 2015) Gebrezgabher, Solomie A.; Amewu, Sena; Amoah, Philip
The reuse of treated wastewater for aquaculture has been practiced in several countries and has a potential to create a viable fish farming business in low income countries. However, wastewater aquaculture practices which satisfy health and hygiene guidelines and standards will not be viable if consumers are unwilling to purchase fish reared in treated wastewater. In this study we investigate consumers’ preference and willingness to pay for fish farmed in treated wastewater in Ghana. A consumer survey was conducted in Kumasi. We utilize a dichotomous-choice contingent valuation methodology to estimate willingness to pay for fresh Tilapia and smoked Catfish farmed in treated wastewater and analyze factors that affect consumer choice. Consumers in the survey ranked price, size and quality of fish measured by taste and freshness as the most important product attributes influencing their decision prior to purchasing fish. Source of fish is among the least important product attributes influencing consumers’ decision. Results indicate that surveyed consumers generally accept fish reared in treated wastewater if lower prices are offered. Socioeconomic factors such as household income, education and family size significantly determine consumers’ willingness to pay. Furthermore, results indicate that households with children are more likely to pay for smoked Catfish compared to fresh Tilapia indicating that postharvest processing of fish might be perceived as safer and thus increases consumers’ willingness to pay for smoked Catfish. The results of this study provide better understanding of fish consumers’ buying behavior and their perceptions of and attitude towards fish reared in treated wastewater. Moreover, results can contribute to identifying key product attributes that need to be targeted for improvement if sales of fish farmed in treated wastewater is to be achieved.
Irrigated urban vegetable production in Ghana: characteristics, benefits and risk mitigation
(Book, 2014) Drechsel, Pay; Keraita, Bernard N.
Co-composting of solid waste and fecal sludge for nutrient and organic matter recovery
(Report, 2016) Cofie, Olufunke O.; Nikiema, Josiane; Impraim, Robert; Adamtey, Noah; Paul, Johannes G.; Koné, D.
Biological treatment, composting, in particular, is a relatively simple, durable and inexpensive alternative for stabilizing and reducing biodegradable waste. Co-composting of different waste sources allows to enhance the compost nutrient value. In particular, integration of ‘biosolids’ from the sanitation sector as potential input material for co-composting would provide a solution for the much needed treatment of fecal sludge from on-site sanitation systems, and make use of its high nutrient content. This research paper elaborates in detail the main parameters that govern the co-composting process as well as factors that control the production of a safe and valuable quality compost. It further explains technological options to tailor the final product to crop and farmer needs.
Water management for sustainable agricultural intensification and smallholder resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Journal Article, 2015-11) Cofie, Olufunke O.; Amede, Tilahun
Water management strategies and allocation policies that support agricultural intensification across agro-ecological zones and hydrologic basins are required for building resilient agrarian communities in sub-Saharan Africa.We provide an overview of the research and investments needed to enhance agriculture in the region, with a focus on technology and institutions, while describing opportunities for improving rainfed crop production.We discuss a range of water management practices in three river basins that were part of the Challenge Program onWater and Food research on Basin Development Challenges from 2009 to 2013. Our main message is that technical and institutional innovations in water management are required for creating and sustaining resilient agrarian communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Such innovations are best designed and implemented in consultations involving researchers, households, investors, and other participants with a management or regulatory responsibility. It is in this collaborative spirit that we introduce this Special Issue of Water Resources and Rural Development, in which several authors present results of studies on agricultural water management in the region, with recommendations for better planning and implementation of interventions to benefit smallholder farmers.

Browse

Recent Submissions