Potential of Solid Waste Composting in the Gaza Strip-Palestine

Abstract

The land in the Gaza strip is limited and there is no more space for solid waste dumping. The current situation with regard to handling of waste in the Gaza Strip poses serious threats to the environment and public health. The paper discussed the potential of solid waste composting in the Gaza Strip. More than 60% of Gaza solid waste is organic as 360,000 tons of domestic organic waste is generated yearly in addition to 440,000 tons of organic agriculture waste. Composting municipal and agriculture waste in the Gaza Strip is expected around 800,000 tons/year while the local market demand is only 160,000 tons/year (20%). To avail a higher quantum it would be required to also look at the potential of compost markets in the West Bank and Egypt. By mixing the compost with manure, the organic matter content can be increased further and the compost can be enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus. The marketing potential may be enhanced by the mixing because farmers then only have to use one soil improver for both organic matter and nutrients.