The “WasteGui” project is developing a guideline for the sustainable handling of organic waste in Ethiopia. The aim is to provide technical and organizational solutions for the management of organic waste in East Africa.
Title:
WasteGui – Guideline of urban and rural organic waste in the African countries using the example of Ethiopia
Region:
East Africa/Ethiopia
Term:
July 2021 – September 2022
Partner:
Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ)
Goal of the Project
The aim of the project is to develop a legal, technical and economic guideline for the handling of organic waste as a basic strategy for politics, administration, research and the private sector in East African countries using the example of Ethiopia
Main Targets
- Evaluation of the current status in the management of organic waste
- Establishment of a broadly based expert working group and networking with local stakeholders in Ethiopia
- Proposal of suitable technical solutions
- Knowledge transfer to decision-makers and target groups through the development of a guideline
The Initial Situation
In East Africa, improper handling of organic waste—such as landfilling and open burning—leads to significant environmental and health problems. At the same time, there are considerable opportunities to use these materials as resources. Technical solutions for recycling and the sustainable use of organic waste have been successfully tested in Germany and could be adapted to local conditions in East Africa to promote broad application.
- High proportion of organic waste (50–70%) in Ethiopia
- Environmental issues: leachate, methane/nitrous oxide emissions, odor nuisance, flue gases
- Health and environmental risks for humans, animals, and nature
- Opportunities: production of fertilizer, energy, and raw materials from organic waste
Activities and Measures
- Development of a guideline for the management of organic waste
- Establishment of a network of stakeholders from politics, administration, science, and business in Ethiopia and Germany
- Organization of workshops and training sessions with local decision-makers
- Provision and preparation of information on locally adapted solutions
- Development of recommendations for action and transferability to other East African countries
Results and Publications
- Guideline on the management of organic waste (legal, technical, economic aspects)
- YouTube video: A Guide to Organic Waste Management in East Africa
- Final report
Funded by:
The project is being implemented within the framework of the Call for Solution of the PREVENT Waste Alliance (GIZ) and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
