The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana

Globally, collection of tipping fees is being promoted as a solution to sustain the operation of fecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs). Currently, there are six large-scale FSTPs in Ghana, of which five were in operation in June 2017. In Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale, fecal sludge (FS) is co-t...

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Main Authors: Tanoh, Rebecca, Nikiema, Josiane, Asiedu, Zipporah, Jayathilake, Nilanthi, Cofie, Olufunke O.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116406
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author Tanoh, Rebecca
Nikiema, Josiane
Asiedu, Zipporah
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Cofie, Olufunke O.
author_browse Asiedu, Zipporah
Cofie, Olufunke O.
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Nikiema, Josiane
Tanoh, Rebecca
author_facet Tanoh, Rebecca
Nikiema, Josiane
Asiedu, Zipporah
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Cofie, Olufunke O.
author_sort Tanoh, Rebecca
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Globally, collection of tipping fees is being promoted as a solution to sustain the operation of fecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs). Currently, there are six large-scale FSTPs in Ghana, of which five were in operation in June 2017. In Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale, fecal sludge (FS) is co-treated with landfill leachate using waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). In Tema and Accra, FS is treated using WSPs and a mechanical dewatering system coupled with an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB). The focus of this study is FSTPs and to assess how, and if, the tipping fees set by the municipalities could enable cost recovery to sustain their long-term operation. Using a questionnaire survey to interview plant managers from the public and private sectors, and directors of waste management departments, we found that the overall average operation, maintenance and management (OM&M) costs per 1000 m3 of treated waste (FS or FS + leachate) in 2017 were USD89 in Kumasi, USD150 in Tamale, USD179 in Tema, USD244 in Sekondi-Takoradi and USD1,743 in Accra. There were important disparities between FSTPs due to their scale, age, and level of treatment and monitoring. Currently, most FSTPs charge tipping fees that range between USD310 and USD530/1000 m3 of FS, averaging USD421 ± 98/1000 m3 of FS discharged at FSTPs. Our study also showed that the OM&M costs of large-scale intensive FSTPs cannot be sustained by relying solely on tipping fees. However, there could be potential to cover the routine expenditures associated with operating smaller FSTPs that relying on WSP technologies.
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spelling CGSpace1164062025-10-26T13:02:45Z The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana Tanoh, Rebecca Nikiema, Josiane Asiedu, Zipporah Jayathilake, Nilanthi Cofie, Olufunke O. faecal sludge treatment plants maintenance public-private partnerships waste management stabilization ponds cost recovery developing countries environmental engineering Globally, collection of tipping fees is being promoted as a solution to sustain the operation of fecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs). Currently, there are six large-scale FSTPs in Ghana, of which five were in operation in June 2017. In Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale, fecal sludge (FS) is co-treated with landfill leachate using waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). In Tema and Accra, FS is treated using WSPs and a mechanical dewatering system coupled with an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB). The focus of this study is FSTPs and to assess how, and if, the tipping fees set by the municipalities could enable cost recovery to sustain their long-term operation. Using a questionnaire survey to interview plant managers from the public and private sectors, and directors of waste management departments, we found that the overall average operation, maintenance and management (OM&M) costs per 1000 m3 of treated waste (FS or FS + leachate) in 2017 were USD89 in Kumasi, USD150 in Tamale, USD179 in Tema, USD244 in Sekondi-Takoradi and USD1,743 in Accra. There were important disparities between FSTPs due to their scale, age, and level of treatment and monitoring. Currently, most FSTPs charge tipping fees that range between USD310 and USD530/1000 m3 of FS, averaging USD421 ± 98/1000 m3 of FS discharged at FSTPs. Our study also showed that the OM&M costs of large-scale intensive FSTPs cannot be sustained by relying solely on tipping fees. However, there could be potential to cover the routine expenditures associated with operating smaller FSTPs that relying on WSP technologies. 2022-02 2021-11-30T16:32:28Z 2021-11-30T16:32:28Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116406 en Open Access Elsevier Tanoh, Rebecca; Nikiema, Josiane; Asiedu, Zipporah; Jayathilake, Nilanthi; Cofie, Olufunke. 2022. The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana. Journal of Environmental Management, 303:114125. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114125]
spellingShingle faecal sludge
treatment plants
maintenance
public-private partnerships
waste management
stabilization ponds
cost recovery
developing countries
environmental engineering
Tanoh, Rebecca
Nikiema, Josiane
Asiedu, Zipporah
Jayathilake, Nilanthi
Cofie, Olufunke O.
The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana
title The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana
title_full The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana
title_fullStr The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana
title_full_unstemmed The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana
title_short The contribution of tipping fees to the operation, maintenance, and management of fecal sludge treatment plants: the case of Ghana
title_sort contribution of tipping fees to the operation maintenance and management of fecal sludge treatment plants the case of ghana
topic faecal sludge
treatment plants
maintenance
public-private partnerships
waste management
stabilization ponds
cost recovery
developing countries
environmental engineering
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116406
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