Resource recovery potential from kitchen waste

Practical Action with Swisscontact conducted a survey aimed to establish precise baseline data on the physical composition and total waste generation in Baridhara Society area of Dhaka North City Corporation. A team collected data for 3 consecutive days including weekly holiday and working days. The study team found most of the generated wastes (48%) are compostable including fruits, vegetables, leaves, food residues, garden wastes etc. 31% was the inorganic recyclables i.e. papers, packaged polythenes, textile fabrics etc. and 18% were mixed wastes i.e. soiled tissue papers, fabrics, kids diapers etc. A very few (3%) were hazardous mainly electric bulbs and equipment and medical wastes. Maximum waste (1832 grams/household/day) is generated in Friday because of weekly holiday whereas waste generation in working days varies from 1794 to 1797 grams/household/day. Households in Baridhara generates mostly compostable wastes whereas embassy buildings generate mostly inorganic recyclable. These wastes can be used to generate compost, biogas and electricity rather than land fill.