CBA2010-01CMY-Sang-arun-Final Report

28 Pages·2012·0.77 MB·English

by  Kristine Garcia

FINAL REPORT for APN PROJECT
Project Reference: CBA2010-01CMY-Sang-arun
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The following collaborators worked on this project:
Janya Sang-Arun, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan, Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Chau Kim Heng, Cambodian Education and Waste Management Organization, Cambodia, Email: [email protected]

Associate Professor Korakanh Pasomsouk, National University of Laos, Lao PDR, Email: [email protected]
Associate Professor Dr. Alice Sharp, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thailand, Email: [email protected]

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Project Reference Number: CBA2010-01CMY-Sang-arun
Final Report submitted to APN

©Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

OVERVIEW OF PROJECT WORK AND OUTCOMES
Minimum 2 pages (maximum 4 pages)

Non-technical summary < 200 words >
This project aims to promote the use of waste biomass for food and energy production, and identify
viable approaches for utilizing biomass conversion technology in the target countries: Cambodia, Lao
PDR, and Thailand. This project has endeavored to involve relevant stakeholders since the beginning of
project implementation. Those stakeholders are national governments, local governments, private
sector organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), who are important for sustaining the
project activities in the target countries. The project reviewed laws, regulations, notifications and
relevant documents on solid waste management in the target countries. In addition to field surveys,
difficulties facing the operation of waste treatment facilities, as well as local government policies on
waste-related issues, were discussed intensively with officers-in-charge.
Based on the reviews and surveys, composting and anaerobic digestion were found to be viable
technologies for converting waste biomass to a useful resource. These technologies are being used for
agricultural waste, but the application for urban organic waste is not yet widely practiced. Most
implemented waste utilization technologies were found in Thailand. There is a high potential for shared
learning and technology transfer between these neighboring countries. However, piloting of transferred
technology is required to ensure successful implementation.
Guides for technology selection and implementation of urban organic waste utilization projects in
Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand were developed based on local condition and capacities of local
governments. The guides were translated into local languages: Khmer, Laotian, and Thai and distributed
to participants of the country’s workshop. Workshop participants included representatives from
national government, local governments, universities, NGOs, and private sectors. Most participants are
interested in introducing these waste utilization technology, especially composting, to their cities. In
addition, they are able to estimate GHG emission reduction from solid waste management practices.
Objectives
The main objectives of the project were:
1) Promote sustainable waste biomass management options for climate change mitigation, food and
bio-energy production for sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and
Thailand.
2) Improve capacity of local authorities to select and implement suitable waste biomass management
approaches and technologies relying mainly on local resources.
3) Increase awareness of local stakeholders of potential benefits of proper waste biomass
management: climate change mitigation, food security, renewable energy source, income generation
and health. RT
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Amount received and number of years supported R
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The Grant awarded to this project was: N
US$ 30,000 for Year 1: 2009 -FI
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US$ 30,000 for Year 2: 2010 r
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Activity undertaken a
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1) Regular communication with relevant governmental organizations about the project and related M
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activities (throughout the project period) 1
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2) Review of relevant documents such as law and regulations related to waste biomass and waste 0-
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management in general in studied countries. 0
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3) Analysis of waste composition in four major cities in Cambodia and Lao PDR.
4) Field surveys and interviews relevant stakeholders including local governments and private sectors
involved in solid waste management in major cities in studied countries. In Cambodia, the survey
was conducted in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kampong Cham, and Siem Reap. In Lao PDR, the
survey was conducted in Vientiane Capital, Luangprabang, Savanakhet, and Champasak. In Thailand,
the survey was carried out in Bangkok Metropolitan, Rayong, Samui Island, Phitsanulok, and Nakorn
Rachasima.
5) Field visits to some agricultural waste utilization facilities such as a rice husk gasification plant, a
community gasification plant using non-forest timber and agricultural waste, and a cassava waste
utilization project of a tapioca starch company in Cambodia.
6) Intensive study of composting and biogas generation for reducing waste to disposal site and
avoiding greenhouse gas emissions from landfill site. In Lao PDR, an experiment on organic waste
utilization for energy purpose was conducted.
7) Analysis of collected data to identify possible urban organic waste utilization technologies for local
governments in each country.
8) Development of the guides for technology selection and implementation of urban organic waste
utilization project, specific for each studied country.
9) Submission of the draft version of the guides to international and local experts for reviews and
revising the guides.
10) Translation of the guides into local languages (Khmer, Laotian, Thai) and distributing to
participants of the country’s workshops.
11) Organizing capacity building workshops in studied countries in collaboration with national
governments in each country.
12) Revising the guides in English and making it publicly available online and hard copies.
13) Dissemination of research findings and output including making presentation at international
conference and academia.

Results
The project investigated utilization of agricultural waste in comparison with the urban solid waste in
studied countries. However, the authorities managing this waste are different and the problems related
to urban solid waste are more critical than agricultural waste that can be naturally degraded with less
environmental, social, and economic impacts. Therefore, the project focused on urban organic waste
which largely contributes to health hazards, environmental pollution, and global warming.
Based on the literature reviews, field surveys and interviews with relevant stakeholders in studied
countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand), solid waste management service in Cambodia, and Lao
PDR have relied on a fee collected from residents. The urban solid waste in these two countries is
disposed of in a designated dumping area. Almost half of residents are self-disposing by mean of
dumping and burning. The situation of solid waste management in Thailand is more advanced than in
Cambodia and Lao PDR because the Government of Thailand provides subsidies to local governments. In
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There is no concrete urban organic waste utilization activity in Lao PDR, except for food waste collection
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a landfill site and lack of local government interest in composting. Fortunately, the composting operator
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Waste composition analysis was carried out in Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kampong Cham
and Siem Reap) and Lao PDR (Vientiane Capital, Luangprabang, Savannhakhet, and Champasak), to
identify potential use of the solid waste, as the waste data in these countries are limited and out of date.
A simple waste composition analysis in the studied cities found that the fractions of urban organic waste
shares were 66-76% in Cambodia and 30-62% in Lao PDR. Due to budget constraints, waste pickers are
assigned to conduct waste composition analysis and sorting waste by hand. Once budget is available,
more accurate waste sampling technology should be conducted. This analysis revealed that an urban
organic waste utilization project could largely contribute to improved solid waste management,
increased food and energy security, reducing the potential health hazards, and creating job
opportunities in these countries.
In addition, the project members conducted field visits to some agricultural waste utilization facilities
such as a rice husk gasification plant, a community gasification plant using non-forest timber and
agricultural waste, and a cassava waste utilization project of a tapioca starch company in Cambodia.
These technologies are well adopted to the local condition of Cambodia. However, these activities were
not included in the guides because the local authorities responsible for these wastes are different from
those responsible for urban solid waste management.
Due to a different level of development and local conditions, a country specific guide for technology
selection and implementation of urban organic waste utilization projects was developed. Composting
and anaerobic digestion are identified as the most promising technologies in the studied countries as
local governments have some information and familiarity with these technologies.
Capacity building workshops were organized in Cambodia (Battambang), Lao PDR (Vientiane Capital) and
Thailand (Bangkok). There were 86, 55, and 115 participants from local and national governments,
academia, NGOs and private sector, at the workshops in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand, respectively.
Participants understood the linkage between waste management and climate change and could
estimate GHG emissions (simple equations) from their waste management practices and see its benefits
on fundraising. In addition, they requested follow-up workshops (Thailand) and onsite training
(Cambodia and Lao PDR).
Relevance to the APN Goals and Science Agenda, Scientific Capacity Development, and
Sustainable Development
The project is relevant to the APN science and policy agenda on (i) climate change mitigation options
and their implication for sustainable development - reduce greenhouse gas emission from waste and
burning of crop residues, (ii) use of resources and pathways for sustainable development – renewable
energy systems and sources, and (iii) crosscutting-global change and food and health management as
well as technologies that are environmentally friendly. RT
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Self evaluation R
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It was very hard to carry out this project in a timely manner due to various external factors such as A
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border conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, flooding in Thailand, and institutional requests. -FI
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However, we did our best to carry out this project successfully and encourage national and local r
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governments to improve urban organic waste management, by moving from conventional landfill to a ng
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resource efficiency approach, incorporating composting and anaerobic digestion. In addition, we did -S
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fundraising to scale-up the training workshop into a national scale with more participants. Our works C
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can influent national movement towards the 3Rs and resource efficiency to improved organic waste -0
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management. For instance, the Cambodia Government will incorporate our findings into the new law 0
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that is currently drafted, the Government of Laos requests copies of our publication to be used as a
reference manual for a government officer-in-charge of solid waste management, and Thailand will
consider the 3R benefits of climate change mitigation.
Potential for further work
We are looking forward to actual implementation of projects for utilizing urban organic waste in the
studied countries, especially in Cambodia where national and local government show strong interest in
implementation. In 2012, we could secure funding from the Ministry of Environment of Japan and the
UNESCAP to conduct a pilot project on organic waste separation at source for composting in Cambodia.
As part of this project implementation, the project receives an in-kind contribution from Phitsanulok
Municipality, Thailand providing on-site training and monitoring the implementation.
Publications (please write the complete citation)
1. Sang-Arun, J., Chau, K. H., Sam, P., Uch R. (2011) A guide for technology selection and
implementation of urban organic waste utilization projects in Cambodia. IGES policy report 2011-06,
88P (in English).
2. Sang-Arun, J., Chau, K. H., Sam, P., Uch R. (2011) A guide for technology selection and
implementation of urban organic waste utilization projects in Cambodia. IGES policy report 2011-06,
94P (in Khmer).
3. Sharp, A., Sang-Arun, J. (2012) A Guide for Sustainable Urban Organic Waste Management in
Thailand: Combining Food, Energy and Climate Co-benefits. IGES policy report 2012-02, 126P (in
English)
4. Sharp, A., Sang-Arun, J. (2012) A Guide for Sustainable Urban Organic Waste Management in
Thailand: Combining Food, Energy and Climate Co-benefits. IGES policy report 2012-02, 80P (in Thai)
5. Pasomsouk, K. and Sang-Arun, J. (2011) A guide for the promotion of urban organic waste utilization
in Lao PDR. National University of Laos and IGES, 80P. (in Laotian)
6. Pasomsouk, K. and Sang-Arun, J. (2012) A guide for the promotion of urban organic waste utilization
in Lao PDR. National University of Laos and IGES, 64P. (in English)
7. Sang-Arun, J. (2011) Organic Waste in Asia: 3Rs Tackle Climate Change. In Waste Management
World, 3. International Solid Waste Association.
8. Sang-Arun, J., Bengtsson, M., Sharp, A. and Chau, K. H. (2011) Promoting urban organic waste
utilization in developing Asian countries: the case of Cambodia and Thailand. In Regional
Development Dialogue (RDD), 184-199. Nagoya. UNCRD.
9. Pasomsouk, K., Sang-Arun, J. (2012) Study on organic waste utilization to energy in the Lao PDR.
ASEAN Engineering Journal. (submitted).

References
See specific references in each document in attachment.
Acknowledgments
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R The project members are very grateful to local governments in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand for
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L each country. We are also would like to express our sincere thanks to kind contribution of the Ministry
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TECHNICAL REPORT
Minimum 15-20 pages (excluding appendix)

Preface (Limit to 100 words)
Recently, urban solid waste generation is increasing rapidly but the capacity of local governments is
improving slowly, especially in least developing countries. As a result, most waste is being disposed of by
means of open dumping and open burning. However, there is a high percentage of valuable resource in
the waste, which could be recovered for further benefits.
Organic waste is the main composition of solid waste in developing Asia. It can be utilized for soil
improvement, animal feed and energy sources. However, this waste is being disposed of at open
dumping site or landfill which thereby releases methane into the atmosphere and contribute to global
warming.
Therefore, this study aims to promote and facilitate utilization of urban organic waste for either food
production or energy generation, avoiding landfill of this waste which will thereby mitigate climate
change.

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 6
2.0 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 7
2.1 INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS ..................................................... 7
2.2 ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY ................................................................................................ 7
2.3 IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF GOOD APPROACH ................................................................... 7
2.4 FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT ........................................................................ 7
2.5 DEVELOPMENT OF DECISION TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDES ............................................... 7
2.6 PILOT TEST OF THE TOOLS AND GUIDES ..................................................................................... 8
2.7 TRAINING TARGETING LOCAL AUTHORITIES ................................................................................ 8
2.8 DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH OUTPUT ..................................................................................... 8
3.0 RESULTS & DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................. 8
3.1 INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS ..................................................... 8
3.2 ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY ................................................................................................ 9
3.3 IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF GOOD APPROACH ................................................................. 13
3.4 FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 16
3.5 DEVELOPMENT OF DECISION TOOL AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDES .............................................. 18 T
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3.6 PILOT TEST OF THE TOOLS AND GUIDES ................................................................................... 18 PO
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3.7 TRAINING LOCAL AUTHORITIES .............................................................................................. 18 R
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3.8 DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH OUTPUT ................................................................................... 19 N
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4.0 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................ 21 n-
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5.0 FUTURE DIRECTIONS ................................................................................................................ 21 Ar
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REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 22 n
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1.0 Introduction
Waste biomass management in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand are mainly treated by means of open
dumping. In some cities in Cambodia and Lao PDR, open burning is applied to decrease volume of waste
and reclaim landfill area.
Urban waste in these countries comprise 60-70% of organic waste[1,2,3], which can be utilized by means
of animal feed, composting, and anaerobic digestion that can contribute to food production, energy
generation, and climate change mitigation[4]. At the same time, utilization of urban organic waste can
reduce quantity of waste dispose in landfill, and thus save landfill space and thereby expanding the
lifespan of the landfill.
Additionally, use of waste biomass for food production can increase income and accessibility to food,
and reduce import of chemical fertilizers and mitigate the associated environmental impacts related to
chemical fertilizer production and utilization. Use of waste biomass for energy production[5] can create
jobs, increase income and reduce import of energy.
Despite the clear benefits of improved waste management approaches and technologies,
implementation is currently weak due to lack of awareness, skilled personnel, and financial
constraints[6,7]. Most improvement projects rely on external support to select and implement new
technologies and many such projects have finally failed to meet the local conditions. The shutting down
of large scale composting plants in China and terminated biogas projects in India are just a few examples
where inappropriate technologies have led to failure.
Therefore, it is necessary to explore the potential of a comprehensive approach to sustainable waste
biomass management especially in urban areas and to increase the capacity of local authorities to select
and implement the most suitable technologies for their local contexts as well as to stimulate the
development of supportive national policies and institutions.

Main objectives of this project are:
i) To promote sustainable waste biomass management options for climate change mitigation, food
and bio-energy production for sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and
Thailand,
ii) To develop the capacity of local authorities to select and implement suitable waste biomass
management approaches and technologies relying mainly on local resources, and
iii) To increase the awareness of local stakeholders on potential benefits of proper waste biomass
management: climate change mitigation, food security, renewable energy source, income
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R generation, and minimizing health risks.
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