Waste green coconut shells: Diagnosis of the disposal and applications for use in other products

Information about the quantities of green coconut shells disposed of in areas where the coconuts are consumed is not precise, which can make it difficult to arrange the management of these residues. Assessing the amount of coconut husk disposed of in a region, and the potential of this material for producing other products, will not only improve the environment, but will also contribute to the economic development and health of the population. Based on a structured face-to-face survey in a representative sample of seven municipalities in the southern coastal region of Bahia, this study identifies and maps the main points of consumption where the disposal of green coconut shells occurs, with an evaluation of the uncertainty of the data. The results show that the region annually wastes the equivalent of 1.7 M shell units with a standard uncertainty (u) of 1.2 k, and the amount of fibers that could be extracted for the manufacture of products is 632 t (u = 59 t). The use of the green coconut shells wasted in this region to create other products would lead to an annual reduction in emissions of between 10.2 t and 20.9 t of CH4. A survey conducted over the past ten years of the general framework for possible uses of the shells, and an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), have shown that green coconut shells have potential for use in the production of gardening products, handicrafts, and briquettes. Valuation based on gardening products reveals that the region could produce 34 M (u = 47 k) units of biodegradable tubes for planting seedlings annually and could therefore generate a gross annual revenue of R$ 170 000 (u = 2 350). With regards to briquettes, considering only the municipality of Ilheus, production could generate a gross value between R$ 2 190 and R$ 3 650 per month. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.