Waste Characteristics Study and Recycling Practice Trend at Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Engineering Complex, UiTM

Abstract

In Malaysia, waste management via recycling is highly promoted, however, recycling bins are not fully utilized as almost all the recycling bins provided are filled with other wastes. As institutional waste is a part of municipal solid waste (MSW), this composition study will be crucial to obtain a conventional management of the waste. In other words, waste composition studies are vital for a more effective and proper management of the waste generated. Hence, the objectives of the research are to analyse the trend of the recycle waste composition obtained during both semester session and semester break and to determine the recycle waste composition collected at UiTM engineering complex. Sorting of the solid wastes from the recycle bins are done manually before weighing of each waste category. The trend shows that paper has the highest composition both during semester session and semester break which is at 65% and 84% respectively followed by plastic bottle with 25% and 13% and aluminum can at 10% and 3%. A sample of recyclable wastes is taken from each recycle bins to the instrumental analysis laboratory for ultimate analysis. The ultimate analysis result shows 43.68% carbon and 1.27% nitrogen for paper wastes, which give a C/N ratio of 34.67. This indicates that paper wastes are compostable when mixed with yard wastes. In determining the economic benefits of recycling, potential revenue of RM78.37 can be obtained from a 10-week period of study and hence, if recycling practice is made compulsory, the revenue can be increased.