Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Proper Handling and Disposal of Laboratory Waste
Published on: April 30, 2023
Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Operational Performance in Wa Municipality, Ghana
Patrick Aaniamenga Bowan1, Sam Kayaga1, Andrew Cotton1
1Water Engineering Development Centre, School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
Background:
The generation and management of solid waste pose potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
Objective:
The present study examines the operational performance of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in the Wa Municipality, Ghana.
Methods:
The study applied both qualitative and quantitative research methods and modelled the Wa Municipality's MSW disposal system using the municipal solid waste decision support tool (MSW DST). Acid gases (sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides) and total particulate matter that have a direct impact on human health were set as the objective functions for modelling five MSW disposal scenarios. The modelled scenarios were: 1) landfill disposal only; 2) composting and landfill disposal; 3) composting, incineration, refuse derived fuels (RDF) and landfill disposal; 4) separation, composting, incineration, RDF and landfill disposal; and 5) separation, transfer, material recovery, composting, incineration, RDF and landfill disposal. The pollutants chosen as indicators for substance flow analysis included lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, copper, chromium, and zinc.
Results:
Scenarios 4 and 5 produced the least engineering cost of 1 150 000 US $/year for the entire MSW disposal system, whereas scenario 2 produced the highest cost of 1 340 000 US $/year. Scenario 5 produced the least average health impacts of -5.812E-04 lbs/year, while scenario 2 generated the highest engineering cost and produced the highest average health impact of 9.358E-05 lbs/year. Scenarios 5 and 4, which included waste-to-energy conversion in the systems, produced the lowest average health impacts (-5.812E-04 lbs/year and -5.611E-04 lbs/year, respectively).
Conclusions:
The adoption of an integrated solid waste management concept, including waste-to-energy technologies, will not only help to lessen MSW disposal hazards, but also to produce alternative sources of energy for Ghana and other developing countries.
Competing Interests:
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Related Concept Videos
04:28Proper Waste Disposal
07:57Operating the Glovebox
A glovebox is an isolated enclosure that is designed to maintain an inert atmosphere. The manipulation of chemicals or apparatus is done via the use of gloves, which allow operation while still maintaining an inert atmosphere. A positive pressure is utilized to compensate for any passive leaks. Objects can be transferred in and out of the box using an antechamber that acts as an airlock between the box...
16:33Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes
10:21Microfluidic Applications for Disposable Diagnostics
09:32Solid-Liquid Extraction
Extraction is a crucial step in most chemical analyses. It entails removing the analyte from its sample matrix and passing it into the phase required for spectroscopic or chromatographic identification and quantification. When the sample is a solid and the required phase for analysis is a liquid, the process is called solid-liquid extraction. A simple and broadly applicable form of solid-liquid extraction entails combining...
06:11Measuring Biomethane Potential of Food Scrap Waste Anaerobically Co-Digested with Waste-Activated Sludge Using Respirometry