Big Hanna – a sucessful installation in Uganda by NLS Waste Services in Tullow Oil’s camp sites
The places where Big Hanna composters can be installed are so different from each other! For the first time two of our larger Big Hanna model T240 have been installed in Africa. Here’s why:
”THE NEED FOR A WASTE COMPOSTER AT TULLOW UGANDA CAMP FACILITIES:
Tullow Uganda Operations PTY operates two base camps in Kisinja and Buliisa in its EA2-N operating area in the Albertine Grabben.Each of these camps has a capacity to currently accommodate a maximum of 200 people and as such a considerable amount of waste is generated. Waste segregation is practiced at both camps with majority of waste being non-hazardous biodegradable waste. Non biodegradable waste and medical wastes such as plastics, metal cans are segregated and appropriately disposed of or recycled.Non-hazardous, biodegradable waste mainly food scraps was being disposed of by burial into on-site pits. However, given that substantial amounts are produced and that base camps will still be used during the next phase, development and production, disposal by on-site burial was unsustainable because of space limitation and cost of set up. In addition, the pits were not engineered to contain the leachate and methane produced during the biodegradation process with the leachate having the potential of contaminating ground water. Meanwhile, the methane produced can be a fire hazard if it migrates to the surface. It therefore was prudent to beginning exploring other tenable options to disposing of camp biodegradable waste.The biodegradable waste is mainly food scraps from the kitchens and messes. The waste generated per capita per day is about 2 kg. Taking 200 as the maximum POB capacities per camp (this includes day visitors) it implies that the maximum amount of food waste that can be produced at each camp is about 400 kg per day in the current camp set up. However, in the long term it is expected that more food waste will be produced as the camp POB increases during the development phase.Following a Best Available Technology (BAT) study that took into consideration available options, economics, environmental considerations, quantities, quality and type of waste generated, it was advised that a composter would be ideal to handle especially food waste.”
In the canteen kitchens a Compact Waste Managment System (WMS) removes the liquid from the food waste before the it is composted. The WMS thereby reduces the food waste with 50-70% by macerating and dewatering it.
The dewatered food waste is then fed in to the Big Hanna Composter. At each site there is now one Big hanna Composter model T240 and a biofilter.
In August this year the units were installed by NLS Waste and at the same time the staff was given a training of the biological process and how to operate the machines. All units at both sites were installed and commissioned during one week including training. Cecilia Ek from Susteco AB was helping NLS Waste Services with the training. First the Kisinja site:
