Abstract:
As Sri Lanka enters the next phase of mass urbanization, one of the challenges that the
nation faces is to devise a sustainable Solid Waste Management system (SWM) which
would be capable of coping with the ever growing volume of solid waste. Among 38
tons of daily disposal of solid waste in Matara municipality, majority consists of
degradable organic wastes. For the establishment of proper solid waste management
system in the area, degradable waste should be converted to compost at household
level. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of composting
degradable solid wastes at household level using concrete household composting bins
which were distributed among households.
The research was conducted in Walpola GN division in Matara municipality. Sample of
50 households were selected and compost bins made from concrete were installed and
mobilization programme was undertaken to prepare backyard compost. Results of the
survey showed initially only 32% were aware of composting household wastes, while
majority (68%) was not aware. At the initial survey it was found 57% of households
supply household waste to municipal council (MC) trucks while only 30% making
compost. At present, 100% use there kitchen waste for composting.
About 52% of the households agree with the performance and ability of handling and
given compost bin. Only 6% of the households could produce compost within a period
of six months, while the majority of households (51%) could produce after a period of
six months representing a low rate of process. As a consequence only 54% of the
households in the sample used the produced compost for home gardening.
Among the problems associated with the given model of compost bins, difficulty to
move the bin (23%), low decomposition rate (17%), problems of snails and flies (14%),
and inadequate capacity (3%) difficulties of taking the produce out were dominant.
About 34% of the households maintained the compost bins at satisfactory level. So the
study concludes that although the introduced compost bin was comparatively effective,
an array of problems have arisen which require further study.
