Abstract

Land-filling has remained the most customarily employed method of waste management in developing countries despite the increased attention to improvement of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management. There is a worldwide need to find the right management approach to MSW and this research is evaluating an improved strategy for MSW management in Nigeria. Lignocellulose which comprises a significant portion of municipal solid waste (MSW) 40–70% in developed countries, including paper, wood, and yard waste are often shielded by lignin, posing a barrier to waste decomposition in a natural landfill condition. Lignin is known to be resistant to microbial degradation under low-oxygen conditions that normally occur in MSW landfills. This research was set up to assess the potential of termites digested MSW in efficient waste degradation and biogas production for green energy use. Assortment of MSW – Sugar bagasse, coconut shell, paper waste, jute bag, hard wood, sawdust and card board were introduced into designed termites’ reactors and sanitary landfills, to evaluate their capabilities for MSW anaerobic digestion. Consequently, the volume of waste digestion was determined and the accompanying biogas emissions were intermittently collected and analyzed. Also, the sanitary landfill experimental conditions were set up to digest equal MSW substrates as those used in the termitary and the results indicated significantly reduced degradations and biogas production. The substrate degradation in the termireactors were observed to be faster and about 50% more effective than sanitary landfill for a period of 90 days and emission of biogas which constituted about 72% methane, 23% carbon dioxide and 5% hydrogen sulphide/others were observed to be about 60% faster using the termireactor.