Testing of briquette production for household use by informal waste workers at the Calajunan dumpsite in Iloilo City, Philippines

Abstract

Three recommended mixtures for briquette production were tested by eight identified informal waste workers within a 10-day briquette production test at the Calajunan dumpsite in Iloilo City, Philippines. The test revealed that Briquette 1 utilized a total of 127.50 kg dry waste paper; Briquette 2 was produced out of 183.80 kg of paper and sawdust while Briquette 3 was formed using 152.00 kg of paper, carbonized rice husk and sawdust. Briquette 2 produced the highest dry briquettes at 175.50 kg per 4.27 hr/day briquetting time followed by Briquette 3 at 142.74 kg for 4.18 hr/day and Briquette 1 at 122.25 kg for 4.19 hr/day. When all briquettes produced per day would be sold by the local waste worker’s association at a rate of Php15 (US$0.34) per kg, Briquette 2 would give the highest approximate daily earnings of Php263 (US$6). Heating value of the pillow-shaped briquettes produced ranged from 6,500 to 7,000 Btu/lb.