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With the growing problem of municipal solid waste and the demand for an alternative energy source regarding rising petrol prices, anaerobic digestion technology has also been extended to organic solid wastes instead of animal dung and faecal wastes. This paper evaluates the suitability of a small-scale biogas system as a decentralised treatment option for the organic fraction of market and household solid waste in Dar el Salaam, Tanzania.

VOEGELI, Y. ; LOHRI, C. ; KASSENGA, G. ; BAIER, U. ; ZURBRUEGG, C. (2009): Technical and biological Performance of the ARTI Compact Biogas Plant for Kitchen Waste - Case Study from Tanzania. In: Proceedings Sardinia 2009, Twelfth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy; 5 - 9 October 2009. Environmental Sanitary Engineering Centre (CISA): URL [Accessed: 06.06.2019]

This article talks about new treatment options for the anaerobic digestion of organic household waste in developing countries to improve waste management and provide households and institutions with biogas — a renewable, clean source of cooking energy.

VOEGELI, Y. ; LOHRI, C. (2009): Renewable Energy from Kitchen Waste. In: Sandec News: Volume 10 URL [Accessed: 06.06.2019]

This book covers the principles and practices of technologies for the control of pollution originating from organic wastes (e.g. human faeces and urine, wastewater, solid wastes, animal manure and agro-industrial wastes) and the recycling of these organic wastes into valuable products such as fertilizer, biofuels, algal and fish protein and irrigated crops.

POLPRASERT, C. (2007): Organic Waste Recycling. Technology and Management. Bangkok, Thailand: Asian Institute of Technology URL [Accessed: 06.06.2019]

Volume II of the Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater provides information on the assessment and management of risks associated with microbial hazards and toxic chemicals. It explains requirements to promote the safe use of wastewater in agriculture, including minimum procedures and specific health-based targets, and how those requirements are intended to be used. It also describes the approaches used in deriving the guidelines, including health-based targets, and includes a substantive revision of approaches to ensuring microbial safety.

WHO (2006): Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater excreta and greywater. Volume II. Wastewater Use in Agriculture. Geneva: World Health Organisation URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019] PDF

Poster presentation on initial research findings on the development of synthetic terra preta that could be as effective in promoting plant growth and in sequestering carbon as terra preta.

CHIA, C. H. ; JOSEPH, S. D. ; MUNROE, P. ; LIN, Y. ; HOOK, J. ; SHASHA, A. ; ZWIETEN, L. van ; KIMBER, S. ; COWIE, A. ; SINGH, B. ; LEHMANN, J. ; HANLEY, K. ; BLACKWELL, P. ; CARTER, E. ; MANNING, D. A. C. ; FIALIPS, C. I. A. (2009): Development of Synthetic Terra Preta (STP): Characterisation and Initial Research Findings. In: Proceedings of the Asia Pacific Biochar Conference 2009, Gold Coast Australia 17 to 20 May, 2009. Australian and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network: URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

This document contains a short review on biogas technology and an overview on the green productivity concept and community development. It also contains a detailed construction manual for fixed-dome biogas plant at the household level for the digestion of animal dung. An operation manual is also given and wide information on biogas appliances, such as cooking stoves and reuse of remaining compost from the digesters.

KOOTTATEP, S. OMPONT, M. HWA, T.J. (2004): Biogas: GP Option for Community Development. Asian Productivity Organization (APO) URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

PDF presentation about condominium-level biogas digesters for the transformation of human faeces. Biogas basics as well as two case studies (from Germany and India) are presented.

MUENCH, E. (2008): Overview of anaerobic treatment options for sustainable sanitation systems. In: BGR Symposium "Coupling Sustainable Sanitation and Groundwater Protection": URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

Detail calculations of the potential of carbon sequestration by the production of bio-char (charcoal or biomass-derived black carbon) and its application to soil is proposed to establish a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide are given and discussed.

LEHMANN, J. ; GAUNT, J. ; RONDON, M. (2006): Bio-char sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems– a review. In: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change : Volume 11 , 395-419. URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

Technical information on the advantages and main technologies of anaerobic digestion treatment for wastewaters in developing countries.

NATURGERECHTE TECHNOLOGIEN ; Bau- und Wirtschaftsberatung (TBW) GmbH (2001): Anaerobic treatment of municipal wastewater treatment. (= Technical Information W3e ). German Agency for Technical Cooperation GmbH (GTZ) and German Appropriate Technology Exchange (GATE) URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

The document gives an overview on the combined composting of (faecal) sludges and organic solid waste based on a pilot project in Kumasi, Ghana. Results of the investigation should help the city’s waste management department to develop its biosolids management strategy and enable the project team to develop guidelines for planners and engineers on the option of co-composting.

STRAUSS, M. DRESCHER, S. ZURBRUEGG, C. MONTANGERO, A. OLUFUNKE, C. DRECHSEL, P. (2003): Co-composting of Faecal Sludge and Municipal Organic Waste. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science (EAWAG), Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (SANDEC) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI) URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

BRUYN, J. de HOUSE, H. RODENBURG, J. (2006): Ontario Large Herd Operators European Anaerobic Digestion Tour Report. Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands : Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

This booklet reflects seven years of experience of the Biogas Extension Service (BES) of CAMARTEC (Centre for Agricultural Mechanization and Rural Technology) in Arusha/Tanzania, which was carried out in cooperation with the GTZ from 1983 to 1986. It is meant as a teaching aid in agricultural colleges and as a reference book for professionals working in the field of rural biogas extension.

SASSE, L. (1991): Improved Biogas Unit for Developing Countries. German Appropriate Technology Exchange (GATE) and German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) GmbH URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

This chapter discusses the potential of slash-and-char agriculture as an alternative to slash-and-burn and the effects on microbial cycling of nutrients nitrogen fixation in the soils. Focus is held on highly weathered soils in the humid tropics.

LEHMANN, J. RONDON, M. (2006): Bio-Char Soil Management on Highly Weathered Soils in the Humid Tropics. In: UPHIFF, N. ; BALLl, A. ; FERNANDES, E. ; HERREN, H. ; HUSSON, O. ; LAING, M. ; PALM, C. ; PRETTY, J. ; SANCHEZ, P. ; SANGINGA, N. ; THIES, J. (2006): Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems. 517-530. URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

seecon (n.y): SSWM Toolbox: Water Purification. SSWM URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

An article on the potential of carbon sequestration by integrating charcoal (bio-char) into the soils.

LEHMANN, J. (2007): A handful of carbon – commentary. In: Nature: Volume 447 , 143-144. URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

This informal paper argues that composting should be a more widespread practice, especially in developing countries. It reviews past composting experiences and provides an outline for municipal managers to use when evaluating composting programs within an integrated municipal waste management system.

HOORNWEG, D. THOMAS, L. OTTEN, L. (2000): Composting and Its Applicability in Developing Countries. (= Urban Waste Management Working Paper Series , 8 ). Washington, D.C.: The World Bank URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

The aim of this publication is to present and discuss the design drawings, from which a struvite precipitation reactor can be built. In addition, a breakdown of the building costs and some suggestions for improvements are presented.

ZANDEE, M. ETTER, B. (2011): Low-cost Struvite Reactor - Construction Manual. Duebendorf: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG) URL [Accessed: 05.06.2019]

The Anammox reaction was discovered and validated to be mediated by microbes in the early nineties. In 1999, the responsible bacteria were positively identified. These slowly growing microorganisms belong to the order Brocadiales and are affiliated to the Planctomycetes. Cultivation of these bacteria at sufficient biomass density and rate, as well as the lack of pure cultures, has challenged the study of these extraordinary organisms. Membrane reactors have made the cultivation of up to 95% enriched cell suspensions of Anammox bacteria possible.

KUENEN, J.G. KARTAL, B. JETTEN, M.S.M. (n.y): The Discovery of the Anammox Process and Beyond. Pasadena: The Agouron Institute URL [Accessed: 03.06.2019]

MUELLER, C. (2007): Anaerobic Digestion of Biodegradable Solid Waste in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science (EAWAG), Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (SANDEC) URL [Accessed: 03.06.2019]

Short Factsheet on the applicability and design criteria of trickling filters including a lot of information on operation and maintenance (form the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

U.S. EPA (2000): Trickling Filters. (= Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet, EPA 832-F , 14 ). United States Environment Protection Agency URL [Accessed: 03.06.2019]