Feasibility study of rural solid waste management in the West Bank

For the UNDP/Jerusalem and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, ECODIT went to the West Bank to identify and evaluate alternative solid waste management options for Kufur Ra'i, Fahmeh, and neighboring villages in the northern district of Jenin. ECODIT conducted an economic evaluation of alternative solid waste collection options (different collection equipment and service areas). Based on the comparative costs of alternative options, three villages (Kufur Ra'i, Fahmeh, and Arrameh) agreed on the need to join forces for solid waste collection and recommended specific management and institutional options to implement joint solid waste collection services. ECODIT met with representatives of the Palestinian National Authority (Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Planning), the UNDP, the Civil Administration of the West Bank, and various agencies and organizations to discuss ideas and present findings. ECODIT recommended forming a Joint Solid Waste Services Council that will own a tractor and trailer and provide solid waste collection and disposal services in Kufur Ra'i, Fahmeh, and neighboring Arrameh. All recommendations of the feasibility study have been implemented and the solid waste collection and disposal system is currently operational and self-sustainable.

Feasibility study of solid waste management in Tripoli (Lebanon) and Latakia (Syria)

ECODIT participated with the Municipalities of Barcelona and Marseille in feasibility studies of solid waste management in Tripoli, Lebanon and Latakia, Syria. Solid wastes were then dumped on the sea shore within the boundaries of Greater Tripoli (see Photo) and near the coastline outside the boundaries of the Municipality of Latakia. In each city, the Team evaluated alternative solid waste management options, including sanitary landfill inland, sanitary landfill on land gained over the sea (for Tripoli due to limited availability of land), incineration, and composting-recycling. ECODIT provided support in (1) data collection and analysis; (2) public consultation and participation; and (3) comparative analysis of the costs and benefits of different waste management options. ECODIT participated in various technical meetings and workshops held with municipal and government officials and NGO representatives to discuss the environmental impacts of current disposal practices, the advantages and drawbacks of alternatives management options, potential site locations, and national and regional strategies for solid waste management in Lebanon and Syria.

Feasibility study of hazardous waste management in Bulgaria

ECODIT participated with ICF Kaiser International in a feasibility study of hazardous waste management in Bulgaria funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (US TDA). The study characterized the types and quantities of hazardous and dangerous wastes generated in Bulgaria and generators of these wastes. ECODIT examined the institutional, legal, and regulatory aspects of hazardous waste management in Bulgaria and made specific recommendations for institutional strengthening and regulatory development. ECODIT identified specific hazardous waste management projects that could be financed by the World Bank or other international funding agencies.

Feasibility study of a waste-to-energy plant to treat pig slurry and chicken manure in Cyprus
For a private investor, ECODIT studied the technical and financial viability of building a $3 million biogas conversion plant using pig slurry and chicken manure. The plant would convert animal waste through anaerobic digestion into methane, which would be burnt to produce electricity. The solid residue would be mixed with composted grape marc and sold along with the liquid residue as organic fertilizer. ECODIT carried out an on-site evaluation of the pig farm and interviewed Cyprus government officials. We also interviewed officials and industry experts in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, whose governments have shown strong political and economic support for this activity in the past. ECODIT analyzed the Cyprus government policy with regard to the industry, evaluated the organic fertilizer market in Cyprus, and evaluated plant profitability under different subsidy scenarios (0%, 30%, and 50%). ECODIT also explored financing opportunities with the European Commission and the French government.

Preparation of a feasibility study for hazardous waste management in Malaysia

For the US TDA, ECODIT prepared the terms of reference for a Feasibility Study (FS) on hazardous waste management in Malaysia. The FS evaluated whether Kualiti Alam (KA), the 15-year hazardous waste management concessionaire selected by the Malaysian government, could use the plasma technology in their Waste Management Centre in Bukit Nanas. Plasma arc torches use electricity to generate extremely high temperatures (from 5,000 to 14,000 oC) that disassociate organics into gases and melt inorganics into lava. During its mission in Malaysia, ECODIT met with KA's executives who expressed strong interest in plasma and requested TDA's assistance. KA's Waste Management Centre in Bukit Nanas currently includes a hazardous waste storage facility and a hazardous waste landfill. A plasma plant would complement the upcoming 50,000 tons per year incinerator and would handle ash from the incinerator and wastes that cannot be incinerated. To prepare the terms of reference, ECODIT reviewed the quantities and types of hazardous wastes generated in Malaysia and assessed current waste management practices. ECODIT also estimated the capital and O&M costs of KA's proposed 80,000 tons per year Plasma Pyrolysis and Vitrification Plant.
ECODIT recommended that the US TDA finance a feasibility study (FS) to assess the commercial viability of the plasma technology for hazardous waste treatment. USTDA signed a $300,000 grant agreement with Kualiti Alam, Malaysia's private hazardous waste management concessionaire. A consortium of four US companies (Global Plasma System, Westinghouse, SAIC, and Ernst and Young) conducted the FS (under a cost-sharing arrangement) that resulted in a partnership between Global Plasma System and Kualiti Alam.

Preparation of a feasibility study for industrial waste/sludge waste projects in Brazil

ECODIT assessed whether the US TDA should provide funding for the Rio de Janeiro Sludge Treatment Feasibility Study and the Suape Industrial Port Complex in Brazil. The Rio de Janeiro Water and Sewage Company (CEDAE) is a state-run company in charge of water supply and wastewater treatment within the State of Rio de Janeiro. CEDAE must find a way to handle the sludge resulting from wastewater treatment. As a result, CEDAE is interested in concessioning sludge treatment to a private firm. ECODIT recommended that TDA fund $300,000 for a Rio Sludge Management Feasibility Study, subject to CEDAE's agreement that any sludge management projects will be developed and operated as concessions.
The Suape Industrial Port Complex is a large port facility and industrial zone situated south of Recife in the State of Pernambuco. Based on a pre-feasibility study conducted by the Pernambuco Federal University, at least two dozen of industrial facilities in the industrial zone generate 23 tons of hazardous waste per day, about 7,000 tons per year. Suape's plan is to out-source the management of industrial waste, just as it currently does for electricity, water, and other utilities. The company selected for industrial waste management may also be contracted by the City of Recife to handle commercial solid waste management for the southern metropolitan area. ECODIT recommended that TDA fund a $25,000 pre-feasibility study to establish written commitments from a manageable number of multinational generators who would be the core customers for the project. ECODIT also recommended funding of $40,000 for an Orientation Visit in the United States to bring potential key Brazilian sector players together with their U.S. counterparts to introduce Brazilian officials to the latest U.S. goods and services relating to industrial waste disposal and treatment.

USTDA desk study on Algerian solid waste projects

ECODIT completed two Desk Studies (DS) for the US Trade and Development Agency (TDA). First, ECODIT reviewed a proposal by Sadat International and Edgeboro International for a feasibility study for the creation of a solid waste landfill in the city of Sidi Abdellah, Algeria. Given the strong opposition from environmental NGOs and because of the difficulty to collect tipping fees, ECODIT recommended that the first phase of the feasibility study focus on cost recovery and financial feasibility.
Second, ECODIT reviewed a proposal by Brown, Vence & Associates (BVA) for a feasibility study for solid waste management projects in Jijel, Algeria. BVA's proposal was to develop a SWM plan for Jijel, but with no direct link to a specific project. ECODIT suggested that BVA improve their proposal by collecting more data on Jijel's municipal SWM budget and focusing on a more specific project with a measurable rate of return.

Municipal solid waste management in Zarqa, Jordan

With funding from the European Commission (SMAP program), ECODIT is providing support to the Municipality of Zarqa and UNDP/Amman in implementing the Zarqa Solid Waste Management (SWM) Project. The Zarqa SWM project aims to improve solid waste collection and cleanliness services and to promote alternative means of waste separation, reuse and recycling in Zarqa City. ECODIT is providing the Team Leader for this project, who has assisted in establishing the local team; prepared the TORs of local and international team members; received, reviewed, and commented on various baseline and sectoral reports; prepared a comprehensive report with specific proposals and recommendations; and presented and discussed findings at public meetings in Zarqa. ECODIT is providing lead support in designing a pilot Materials Recovery Facility and a public awareness campaign to support the proposed improvements to the solid waste collection and recycling operations in Zarqa.

Institutional and organizational development for municipal solid waste management in Palestine

As a member of a three-firm consortium (with CEP and Sadat), ECODIT is leading the organizational development and capacity building efforts in support of a World Bank project to implement regional solid waste management (SWM) collection and disposal services in the districts of Jenin and Al-Khalil (Hebron). ECODIT has assessed organizational development and capacity building needs of local governments and of the regional SWM council to be established in each district. We conducted a survey of local governments and formulated short- and long-term recommendations to build up the capabilities of local governments and each SWM Council. We identified staffing needs, job profiles, and basic functions of the key professional staff of each SWM Council and helped the Jenin Council recruit those staff. We also provided technical assistance and training to key targeted stakeholders: Council Board members, professional staff of the Council's Executive Unit, mayors and village council presidents, and municipal professionals. Training areas included understanding the roles and responsibilities of the SWM Council and local governments, conducting targeted public awareness campaigns, organizing primary and secondary solid waste collection services, and assessing privatization options and cost recovery issues. ECODIT also prepared manuals and procedural guidelines on each of those topics.