Solid Waste Generation, Composition and Potentiality of Waste-to-Resource Recovery in Sylhet City Corporation, Bangladesh

Abstract

The very fast economic and population growth of Bangladesh, along with its high urbanization rate, have been seen since its independence in 1971. Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has also experienced high population growth as well as rapid urbanization since 2002. The solid waste generation rate is also increasing along with the high economic and population growth in SCC. SCC and its extended areas are now producing more solid waste than ever before because of accelerated unplanned urbanization, ever-growing tourist pressure, and an overgrowing urban population. Sooner than later, resource recovery and capacity development in existing solid waste management systems are required to allow the sustainable and resilient growth of SCC. This study aimed to explore the total amount of solid waste generation per day as well as the waste composition and potentiality for resource recovery from the generated solid waste in SCC and its extended areas. This study has found that SCC is now generating a total of 375.68 tons of solid waste daily from households, daily kitchen markets, medical institutes, resident hotels, commercial shops, and restaurants. This study has also found that about 90% of daily-generated solid waste is perishable and has a high moisture content. This study has found that the generated waste in SCC has the potential to produce compost fertilizer, solid recovered fuel (SRF), and electricity. On the other hand, this study can directly help the conservancy department of SCC to have a brief idea about the existing solid waste generation rate, composition, categories, and potentialities of resource recovery from the generated solid waste. It can also succor other conservancy departments of other city corporations or urban areas of Bangladesh as well as other researchers in a similar way.