Page 1 of 10
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 1
Recycling Human Waste Sludge for Agricultural Purposes
a. BENEDICT OKAFOR
Department of Purchasing and Supply
Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu
b. Dr. PHILEMON AGU
Department of Business Administration and Management
Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu
Abstract
The emphasis on recycling waste product in most recent time is as result of the advantage
based on soil enhancer for greater agricultural products. The topic “ recycling human waste
sludge for agricultural purposes” will amongst other things give municipalities a feasible
and cost effective alternative to land filling the waste and it will help meet the growing the
land for organic soil enhancer and fertilizers with a particular reference Mid-Atlantic
recycling, LLC”s area of business which will be to collect waste from municipality waste
processing plants for use as consumer goods. The statement of the problem is that farmer
/government are ignorant of the market available for recycled human sludge especially in the
Eastern Nigeria. This is unique and viable concept that addresses the need of various
customers and reaches an untapped market with tremendous potentials for greater
productive agriculturally. Some of the objectives of the study is to determine the exist
consumers benefits from quality recycled materials from the properties and organic elements
of composed and to examine the filling of consumers about the feasibility of using recycled
human sludge as fertilizer. A population of 200 people were randomly selected using Taro
Yamane”s sample size determination, a sample size of 133 persons were selected. The
researchers find out that the material can be used for improvement of organic natter content
and fertility of soil and in-vessel composting can maintain a rapid decomposition processing
year round regardless of external ambient conditions.
and finally sustains economic development of the country. It concluded that recycling serves
raw materials, reduces our impact on climate change, costless, generate cash, create job and
helps us towards sustainable living. Based on this findings, the study recommends that we
should invest in providing a good customer care service for huse holders so that they are
encouraged to take part in the scheme and recycle as much of their waste as possible for a
quality plant food and soil enhancer at far lower prices than chemical fertilizers currently in
the market.
Keywords: Recycling, Human waste Sludge and profitability
Page 2 of 10
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 2
INTRODUCTION
Recycling is a process of treating objects or waste materials that they can be used again and
by so doing, it helps to protect the environment. Agu 2016.
Human waste sludge has long been a waste problem for municipalities which operate waste
processing plants. In metropolitan areas that handle large amounts of waste, human sludge is
generally disposed in volume at municipal landfills. Driven by state and federal mandates,
recycling and composting of municipal solid waste has increased dramatically during the past
decades. For example, there are nearly ten thousand curbside recycling programs in America
and nearly 15000 droop-off centres for recyclable materials.
Mid-Atlantic Recycling's business model presents an opportunity to recycle a landfill bound
waste, save the landfill space and give the consumer the opportunity to benefit from the many
positive properties of the composted material.
Human waste sludge contains a high nutrient value which can be composted to produce a
quality plant food and soil enhancer at far lower prices than chemical fertilizers currently in
the market.
The keys to success in our business amongst other things include:
" Overcome perception issues that may exist with using compost made from human
waste sludge.
" Establish and build relationships and trust with customers to help shield from future
competition.
" Expand rapidly to control the market
" Offer reasonable prices
" Get investors to invest
Our aim in the business will be to collect, recycle/compost and market waste from
municipality waste processing plants for use as a consumer good. This recycled product will
meet two critical needs.
¢ It will give municipalities a feasible and cost effective alternative to land filling the
waste.
¢ It will help meet the growing demand for organic soil enhancers and fertilizers. The
material that will be recycled is human waste sludge.
Page 3 of 10
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 3
Our recycled waste will be targeted toward fertilizer manufacture, nurseries, landscapers,
farmers, government agencies, golf courses and others. All these potential customers will
benefit from the compost's numerous soil enhancing characteristics.
Additionally, we will offer a service to waste processing plants owned by municipalities. This
project will enter a niche market in that human waste sludge has not been recycled on any
sizeable scale in Eastern Nigeria. This is a unique and viable concept that addresses the needs
of various customers and reaches an untapped market with tremendous growth potentials.
One of the most attractive aspects is that the business is projected to attain a strong cash
position and achieve profitability in the first year of operation. Due to a large need for these
products and services and lack of direct competition, our projection of quick profitability is
attainable.
Our in-depth research pertaining to human waste is positive soil enhancement characteristics
and its many potential uses is well advanced. The concept has been tested on a small scale
and the results, upon analysis were found to be a high quality compost. Research will be an
on-going process for our company, one particular area of interest is the possibility of
qualifying the product as a fertilizer. In this case, the profitability of the product would nearly
double. Our company on recycling is working with Enugu State Sewage System to
investigate the feasibility of selling the material as fertilizer.
We already have an advance order for 500 tons and one fertilizer manufacturer and a large
landscaper have committed to purchasing 600 tons of our product annually. Additionally,
various municipalities have expressed keen interest in paying us to accept their waste.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
These sterns from the fact that both state and federal government cannot offer a service to
waste processing plants owned by municipalities. Moreso, currently these plants face several
issues regarding the disposal of human waste sludge. Landfills are filling up and costs of
disposal are rising. Mid-Atlantic Recycling will solve this problem by accepting this waste at
a normal charge and recycling it into a useful product.
GENERAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The general aims and objective of this study on "recycling human waste sludge for
agricultural purposes" is to present an opportunity to recycle a landfill bound waste, save the
landfill space and give the consumer the opportunity to benefit from the many positive
properties of the composted material. It is expected that the study will be significant to
entrepreneurs on farming, state, federal, individual, manufacturers, research and the general
public in improving productivity.
Specific objectives are to:
