Who could have imagined anything good coming from human waste? We usually want nothing to do with the stuff once it’s in the toilet and flushed away. But in Kenya, human waste is being turned into briquettes, which are proving more popular than charcoal.
Nakuru Water and Sewerage and Sanitation Company (Nawassco) has partnered with Dutch firm Vitens- Evides in this ambitious project. So popular are the briquettes such that they can hardly meet the daily 4- tonne demand! Currently, the waste treatment plant produces 3 tonnes per month.
This is a laudable project in the wake of Kenya’s sewage management problem. Few areas have proper sewage management infrastructure. Raw sewage is often disposed of in lakes and rivers, posing environmental and health hazards. Even fewer residential estates are connected to the sewer system. In Nakuru Town, for example, only 27% of residents are connected to the town’s sewer system.
To meet the high demand for the briquettes, a larger treatment factory has been built and equipment ordered to upscale operations. Once the factory is open, they expect to produce up to 10 tonnes per day. The project has received Ksh 400 million in grants from the EU.
If you’re concerned about the hygiene aspect, you need not worry. The waste goes through a rigorous process that eliminates all pathogens. First it’s poured out onto drying beds where it stays for 3 weeks to allow all water to evaporate. Then the solids are exposed to high temperatures to kill any living organisms. Next, sawdust is heated up in a large pan then added to the solid residue. Finally, diluted molasses are added as a bonding agent. The mixture is moulded into small balls to complete the process.
Locals prefer the briquettes (which they fondly call makaa dot com) to charcoal since the former are cheaper. A 2-Kg packet of charcoal goes for 90/- while the same amount of makaa dot com sells at 60/-. This clean energy source also goes a long way in terms of consumption. Whereas one packet of charcoal can only last 2 uses, makaa dot com can last up to 5 uses.
This is a step in the right direction considering Kenya’s ban on charcoal, sewage management woes and need for environmental conservation. Hopefully, more counties will follow suit.
