Abstract

Effective solid waste management is essential for addressing environmental challenges and harnessing energy recovery opportunities, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. This study examines the waste management system of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) to explore its energy recovery potential and environmental benefits. The methodology involves a systematic segmentation of RCC's waste management system, including waste collection, transportation, and final disposal. A detailed survey was conducted across households in RCC to determine waste generation rates and composition, revealing that 90% of the waste is organic, while 10% is recyclable. Proximate analysis was employed to measure moisture, volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon content of food waste, while ultimate analysis identified its elemental composition, including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Calorific values of different waste components were determined using a bomb calorimeter, establishing food waste as a significant energy source with 31.416 MJ/kg. The study estimates that RCC generates approximately 270 tons of food waste daily, with a potential energy output of 7.01 MW considering conversion efficiencies. Recycling practices in RCC were also analyzed, focusing on the roles of informal collectors and small recycling factories in processing plastic waste. Despite generating 32.4 tons of recyclable waste daily, only 8.53% is recycled due to limited infrastructure and inefficiencies in source segregation. The study highlights opportunities for improving recycling systems and integrating waste-to-energy technologies to enhance the sustainability of RCC's waste management framework. These findings provide actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to address urban waste management challenges effectively.