Delivered by Ms. Ruth Stringer, Science and Policy Coordinator, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) at the Global Forum 2020 Innovators from the Field session.

1. GLOBAL FORUM2020
3 R D S A V I N G L I V E S S U S T A I N A B L Y:
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION IN THE HEALTH
SECTOR GLOBAL FORUM|2020 RIYADH
Ruth Stringer,
Science and Policy Coordinator, Health
Care Without Harm (HCWH)
Honest Anicetus,
Deogratius Mkembela,
Christoper Kellner
Biodigestion for Pathological and
Biodegradable Waste Management
in Tanzania

2. Project countries:
Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania and Zambia
Funded by GEF
Implemented by UNDP, HCWH and WHO

3. Pathological & organic waste
disposal
 Placentas are hard to burn
 Placenta pits smell and fill
up
 Food waste attracts
disease vectors, creates a
nuisance
 Worst case- waste on
streets
 Rotting organic waste
releases greenhouse gases

4. Nepal
 Biodigesters at major hospitals
including KMC and TUTH
 2-chamber design to maximise
retention time
 Gas value of over 2 US cents
per kg of waste treated
 Digestate goes to sewer
without further handling
 Potential lifetime 20+ years

5. Mwanayamala Hospital,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
 250 bed hospital
 60 deliveries per
day
 Placentas input
directly from
maternity unit
 Food input via
hatch outdoors
 Construction
~$10,000

6. Monitoring and Evaluation
~25kg placenta +
~25kg food
= 2.5m3 gas every
day

7. Special burners for biogas
 Bio-gas is used for water
heating
 Cooking is another efficient
use
 Value of gas ~USD 2.20/day
 Also reduces waste disposal
costs

8. Will it work for you?
• Minimum 10-12kg of waste/day
• Works for pathological/food/garden
waste
• Space that will not be built on (or cars
parked)
• Ideally close to waste sources
• Source of water to keep digester contents
flowing
• Min 1litre water/kg waste. Too much
reduces retention time
• Connection to sewer or septic tank for
digestate
• Location for use of gas
• As close as possible to digester
• Acceptance by users
• Capable designers/construction
companies
• Capacity for basic maintenance (eg piping,
burners)

9. Sinza Hospital, Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania
Constructed late
2019
Two digesters,
14m3 and 19m3
Treats ~15kg
placenta and ~25kg
food waste each
day
Construction cost
approx. $15,000

10. GLOBAL FORUM2020
THANK YOU
rstringer@hcwh.org