The Production and Adaptability of Carbonized Briquettes from Banana Peels in the Banana-Staple Society in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Bananas are grown and consumed in large quantities in Uganda and have been a staple food that is socially and culturally important. Additionally, the leaves and fiber are used for various purposes such as cooking and fulfilling other daily necessities. Banana peels are used as a biomass briquette material in place of charcoal, which is currently used as the primary cooking fuel; this has been the case since the late 2000s in Kampala, the country's capital. This study examined the suitability of carbonized briquettes made from organic waste in a community where bananas are the main food source in Kampala. Through a fieldwork-based survey, production practices, material accessibility, and expansion of production are explored. It was discovered that briquette material is available all year long. Briquettes can be produced using widely available materials, and producers actively share production methods with each other. Since bananas and other steamed and stewed foods are common, briquettes are a convenient substitute to charcoal. With the rise of charcoal prices, briquette production and its use as fuel for cooking is expected to spread. Briquettes could become a new cooking fuel option or partial substitute and help reduce charcoal consumption and reliance on woodfuel.