Agricultural Waste Management: Case Study of a Waste Treatment Plant for Animal Manure

The problem of agricultural waste management is studied in the Northern agricultural region of the Galilee. There are 25 villages and four urban centers in the region neighboring Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee). The animal manure and residues produced in the region is as follows: cattle and poultry manure, green stuff from orchards, residues from food industry, and residues from the neighboring Wastewater Treatment Plant. The aim of this article is to present a method for evaluating comprehensive solution for agricultural waste treatment, including choosing the suitable technology relating to economic aspects, to agricultural needs, and complying with environmental regulations and acts of the region. The following methods and tools were implemented: data questionnaire was conducted by surveying the region; technology evaluation was carried out; mass, energy and liquid balances were calculated; methane emission was predicted; business and environmental impact evaluation report was prepared. The recommended technology is the Anaerobic Digestion. All the waste is disposed at one site; there will be no need for another disposal site in the future. The plant will treat 320 thousand tons of agricultural waste per year, within 45 km range of service. The investment cost is 8.4 million €. The annual income is 2.69 million €, of which 11% are from Carbon Emission Reductions. The payback period is 9 years; the Internal Rate of Return is 19%. The Waste Treatment plant meets the regulations for noise, odor, air pollution, and soil and underground water contamination.