Potential for biogas production

Most household and kitchen waste and leftover food and similar materials are good raw materials for producing bio-gas (methane), an important cooking fuel for the household. Human excreta, generally considered a filthy waste, is also an important source for methane gas which has been economically tapped in Thailand.  This cut down the fuel import by that country where there is practically no geological fuel available.
Cow and goat dung is not included here, as these are mostly recycled in rural Bangladesh as fertilizer. This potential fuel source in Bangladesh is unfortunately totally wasted and adds to the cost of municipal waste collection and disposal. This should be utilised because natural gas resources are depleting.
Possibly the only municipal kitchen waste-based bio-gas generation plant is operating at Gaibandha town, organized by the Gaibandha Municipality in partnership with the local 'Chinnamul Mohila Shamity', under the initiative of which this project is now functioning! Their activity was also supported by some local NGOs and funded by the UNICEF and the USAID in this project.
Surprisingly the plant cost less than Tk 20,000! Interestingly, the waste from this small bio-gas plant is sold and used as organic fertilizer to local farmers at taka seven per kilogram; and around 700 kilograms are sold every month.
It is unfortunate that kitchen waste, a potential raw material for fuel gas generation, is now being collected and disposed off, by the municipal authorities of many large cities and towns like Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Narayanjunj, Comilla, Khulna, Barisal, to name just a few. Such a vast source of potential raw materials for producing fuel gas for domestic and possibly some small local commercial uses is there to be tapped. One wonders if ladies' organizations elsewhere are aware of this nationally important and immensely valuable activity of the unknown Mahila Shamity of Gaibandha.
Furthermore, question arises if this example was ever discussed or recognized as a unique contribution of a local initiative in any of our forums on "Alternative Energy" attended by many 'learned', 'knowledgeable' and experienced local experts on the subject!
It is rather sad that this vital and important rural initiative has been totally ignored in Bangladesh and most urban and rural communities are totally unaware of this unique and simple recycling of kitchen waste that is an important source of usable fuel! The radio and TV can launch an awareness campaign so that the project becomes popular all over the nation!
The other potential source of Methane is 'human excreta' that WASA now spends lot of money, to treat, disinfect and pump out as waste and sludge to our rivers! In contrast, Thailand having no fuel; has used 'human sewage' as the potential source of gas generation that has reduced practically most of its fuel imports.
This writer had the experience of seeing this at some of the big hotels of Bangkok, (courtesy of a local English daily of Bangkok) way back in late 1990s! Here people, on the other hand, attach a stigma on the handling and processing of human solid waste, a valuable source of fuel gas!

The writer now 80+, has over half a century of hands on engineering and technical industries both in the public and private sector in many responsible positions.
 sam@dhakacom.com