International Journal of Waste Resources

Abstract

Suitability of Kibuye Market Organic Waste for Composting as a Means of Solid Waste Management for Kisumu City

John O Oloo and Frankline O Awuor*

Purpose: Organic waste comprises most of the waste in dumpsites in Kenya and this causes environmental challenges at such sites. With Kisumu as a case study, the purpose of this work was to explore the suitability of organic wastes from Kibuye market, hotels and livestock farms for compost manure making as a means of organic solid waste management.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional in design. Compost manure was prepared from organic market waste, hotel food remains and livestock dung. Samples were then taken to a laboratory to test for the content of nitrogen, phosphorous (P₂O₅) using TES/06/TM/21 and TES/06/TM/24 methods respectively and potassium (K₂O) using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) method as well as for heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb) while the Ph of the compost was tested by KS-158 method.

Results: Laboratory tests for the presence of important crop elements were Nitrogen (0.4%), Phosphorous (0.4%), and Potassium (0.9%) whereas for heavy metals were Cd=Nil, Cu=10.1, Fe=1.08, Pb=Nil, and pH=8.4.

Conclusion: It is safe to use organic waste from Kibuye as augmented by those from hotels and livestock farms for composting as a means of organic solid waste management if other supporting systems are in place.

Published Date: 2019-12-02; Received Date: 2019-09-30