Suitability of Kibuye Market Organic Waste for Composting as a Means of Solid Waste Management for Kisumu City

Abstract

Purpose: Organic waste comprises most of the waste in dumpsites in Kenya and this causes environmental challenges at such sites. With Kisumu as a case study, the purpose of this work was to explore the suitability of organic wastes from Kibuye market, hotels and livestock farms for compost manure making as a means of organic solid waste management. Methods: The study was cross-sectional in design. Compost manure was prepared from organic market waste, hotel food remains and livestock dung. Samples were then taken to a laboratory to test for the content of nitrogen, phosphorous (P2O5) using TES/06/TM/21 and TES/06/TM/24 methods respectively and potassium (K2O) using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) method as well as for heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb) while the Ph of the compost was tested by KS-158 method. Results: Laboratory tests for the presence of important crop elements were Nitrogen (0.4%), Phosphorous (0.4%), and Potassium (0.9%) whereas for heavy metals were Cd=Nil, Cu=10.1, Fe=1.08, Pb=Nil, and pH=8.4. Conclusion: It is safe to use organic waste from Kibuye as augmented by those from hotels and livestock farms for composting as a means of organic solid waste management if other supporting systems are in place.