Active Use of Household Garbage as Cooking Fuel: A Case Study of Biomass Briquette Production in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

This paper examines biomass briquette production in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, as a case study of practical use of municipal solid waste as cooking fuel. In the 2000s, people in Kampala started to produce biomass briquettes from kitchen waste, such as banana peel, as alternative cooking fuel to charcoal. Briquettes were introduced in Africa in the 1980s, but production did not continue, reportedly due to high production costs and the ready availability of woodfuel. While considering waste generation, material collection, and briquette production, I have found that raw materials such as banana peel are available throughout the year, and producers can make briquettes without advanced technology or knowledge. The number of briquette producers has been increasing since the late 2000s, and individual producers have developed their production processes with the assistance of environmental organizations. Since the producers can acquire the raw materials in the city, they are able to set a low price for briquettes and make a profit from briquette production. Various background factors such as the availability of raw materials, the simple production process, and the involvement of local/international environmental aid organizations enable briquette producers in Kampala to manage organic waste and to continue their business in a sustainable manner.