Solid Waste In Malaysia Research Articles

Operational process stability in pilot dry anaerobic digester of source‐sorted organic fraction municipal solid waste

AbstractThe organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a major portion of solid waste in Malaysia, with 44.5% of the total waste being food waste‐derived sources. This study investigates the performance of dry anaerobic digester (DAD) operation using the pilot dry anaerobic digester (PDAD), a plug flow reactor, in treating source‐sorted organic fraction municipal solid waste (SS‐OFMSW) for biogas production. A commercial Malaysian food waste (CMFW) sample has been used to represent SS‐OFMSW. The anaerobic digestion was performed in a semi‐continuous operation using a 15 m3 PDAD with organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from .63 to 5.46 kg volatile solid (VS)/m3·day under mesophilic conditions. The maximum methane composition was achieved at 56.0% at OLR 5.17 kg VS/m3·day with specific methane production (SMP) of .57 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and gas production rate (GPR) 5.27 m3·gas/m3·digester·day. As indicated by a pH and alkalinity ratio, the PDAD system was stable ranging from pH 6.7 to 8.3, alkalinity ratio of .3 with an inclination of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) up to 1056 mg/L. The SMP achieved is between 1.58 and .4 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and potentially to fuelled 475 MW commercial biogas plant fed by CMFW. The DAD deployment strengthened the circular economy and decarbonization initiatives.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ON DAILY OPERATION OF SELECTED FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT IN NORTHERN REGION OF MALAYSIA

Food waste is the second-highest source of solid waste in Malaysia. It accounts for about 32% of the total volume of waste generated in the country. Western food restaurants and Indian Muslim (also known as Mamak) restaurants in Northern Region, Malaysia are fast-growing food establishments and have become common among Malaysians of different races. Thus, this study aimed to identify the waste generation, carbon footprint and water footprint during the daily operation of these two types of food establishment. The waste from the food establishment was classified and measured into three categories: Preparation loss (PREP), serving loss (SERV) and customers’ plate loss (PLATE). The Material Flow Analysis (MFA) was used to exhibit the amounts of food waste generated and the factors that most significantly contributed to the amount of food waste during daily operations. The findings of this study presented that PLATE waste contributed to most of the food waste with 62.9% (Western) and 54.9% (Indian Muslim), compared to PREP losses generated which were 37.1% (Western) and 45.1% (Indian Muslim). The weekly average electricity consumption was 17.3 kWh (Western) and 267.8 kWh (Indian Muslim). Besides, the total weekly carbon footprint was 17.6 kgCO2e (Western) and 29.24 kgCO2e (Indian Muslim). Meanwhile, the total average water consumptions were 21.82 m3 (Western) and 38.2 m3 (Indian Muslim) and the total carbon footprint emission per week was 7.5 kgCO2e (Western) and 13.19 kgCO2e (Indian Muslim). The management of the food establishment may be able to recognise the areas for improvement in reducing food waste generation and carbon footprint from their daily operations.

Understanding barriers and motivations in solid waste management from Malaysian industries: a comparative analysis.

The objective of this study is to explore the similarities and differences in the barriers and motivations between the plastic and resins and food and beverages industries as these two industries are the major contributors of solid waste in Malaysia. Prior studies are lacking with regard to explaining the barriers and motivations in solid waste management from the Malaysian context. This study is focused on 10 firms from the plastics and resins industry and 9 from the food and beverages industry in Malaysia. Through Rasch measurement theory, the results indicate that the barriers of lack of skills and qualifications and lack of closed-loop control and the motivations of cost savings and a business model are performed differently. The findings further confirm that the lack of skills and qualifications is a more difficult barrier to overcome than the lack of closed-loop control, while the motivation factor of a business model is more difficult to achieve than cost savings. In terms of practical contribution, this study provides results that can help policy makers in Malaysia to close the gaps present regarding the adoption of solid waste management practices and to devise appropriate incentives. The study also supports managers of companies in regard to working on the most pressing hindering and promoting factors in the field of solid waste management.

Mechanical and Durability Properties of Foamed Concrete with the Addition of Oil Palm Trunk Fibre

Nowadays, in Malaysia, one of the country's challenges is the improper management and disposal of solid waste. The leading sector that generates most of the solid waste in Malaysia is the agricultural sector from oil palm fibre, similar to oil palm trunk fibre, which is also be used as an additive in producing foamed concrete (FC). However, FC presents a weakness in tension, which can be reduced by adding an adequate volume of waste biomass by-product such as oil palm trunk (OPT) fibre. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to investigate the potential of utilising OPT fibre as a reinforcement in FC. There were four different volume fractions of OPT fibre: 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.45%, and 0.60% used as an additive to the FC mix. Two densities, 600 kg/m3 and 1200 kg/m3, were cast and tested. All FC specimens were then prepared and left to cure and exposed to the elements for 7, 28, and 56 days. In this study, to properties were examined: mechanical and durability properties. The results showed that the addition of OPT fibre in FC improved the compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, water absorption, drying shrinkage, porosity and ultrasonic pulse velocity of the FC. OPT's surface roughness was proved beneficial for fibre to matrix interfacial bonding since a coarser surface permit OPT fibre and matrix interlocking in the hardened cement matrix. Based on the results of this study for 600 kg/m3 density, 0.30% volume fraction was the optimum amount added to the FC to achieve the best durability and mechanical properties. While for 1200 kg/m3, 0.45% volume fraction of OPT was the optimum percentage.

Mechanical Properties of Foamed Concrete with the Addition of Oil Palm Trunk Fibre

Nowadays, in Malaysia, one of the country's challenges is the improper management and disposal of solid waste. The leading sector that generates most of the solid waste in Malaysia is the agricultural sector from oil palm fibre, similar to oil palm trunk fibre, which is also be used as an additive in producing foamed concrete (FC). However, FC presents a weakness in tension, which can be reduced by adding an adequate volume of waste biomass by-product such as oil palm trunk (OPT) fibre. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to investigate the potential of utilising OPT fibre as a reinforcement in FC. There were four different volume fractions of OPT fibre: 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.45%, and 0.60% used as an additive to the FC mix. Two densities, 600 kg/m3 and 1200 kg/m3, were cast and tested. All FC specimens were then prepared and left to cure and exposed to the elements for 7, 28, and 56 days. In this study, mechanical properties were examined. The results showed that the addition of OPT fibre in FC improved the compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength of the FC. OPT's surface roughness was proved beneficial for fibre to matrix interfacial bonding since a coarser surface permit OPT fibre and matrix interlocking in the hardened cement matrix. Based on the results of this study for 600 kg/m3 density, 0.30% volume fraction was the optimum amount added to the FC to achieve the best durability and mechanical properties. While for 1200 kg/m3, 0.45% volume fraction of OPT was the optimum percentage.

Malaysia Moving Towards a Sustainability Municipal Waste Management

The elevation of waste generation subsequent to population growth has become a severe environmental topic in Malaysia. Since most of the waste is being dumped into a landfill, the open dumpsite, or unsanitary landfills which are not constructed with proper engineering plan, severe impacts on the environment result. The energy demand in Malaysia increased with the growing population, but reliance on fossil fuels to generate electricity has created another greenhouse gas contributor. Alternatively, waste-to-energy technology solves the problem of increasing waste by converting the waste to a renewable energy source. Malaysia has moved towards landfill gas recovery system and incineration for waste energy recovery. The recovery system and refuse-derived fuel plant achieved expectation; however, the incineration plants have failed due to the opposition of the public, lack of funding and technician expertise, and other technical issues. The solid waste management practices lacking separation and recycling sources, become an obstacle for development. The government puts effort into solving the current issue by promoting recycling in the public, enforcing the legislation, and approaching new technologies for better solid waste management practice in the future. This paper aims to discuss the application of energy recovery from municipal solid waste in Malaysia.

Composting of food waste in passive aerated bioreactor with turning mode

Almost 45% of municipal solid waste in Malaysia consist of food waste. Composting is one of the sustainable ways to manage food waste compared to incineration and landfilling. This paper investigates the physicochemical and phytotoxicity characteristics during food waste composting in passive aerated bioreactor assisted with compost turning. The initial compost mixture consists of 124 kg of food waste mixed with 62 kg of dry leaves. The composting process was conducted for 40 days, and physicochemical characteristics i.e., temperature, moisture content, total organic carbon, pH and conductivity were monitored. Seed germination test was conducted with cabbage seeds (Brassica oleracea). The highest temperature and final moisture content obtained were 42 °C and 78%, respectively. The seed germination index value was 127%, indicating that the compost is suitable for plant growth.

Utilization of process network synthesis and machine learning as decision-making tools for municipal solid waste management

This paper introduces the utilization of two different optimization models as a decision-making tool for municipal solid waste management. This study aims to provide a framework of decision-making in managing municipal solid waste in Malaysia and demonstrating the function model's potential for a decision-making tool. Process network synthesis is used as a first optimization model to generate feasible pathways for municipal solid waste conversion technologies. A standard data mining technique using machine learning was applied for a simple case study of municipal solid waste management. Data were divided with a ratio of 90:10 for training and testing data and further analysis using different model functions. The model functions involved are linear regression, multilayer perceptron neural network, and sequential minimal optimization regression. The linear regression function provides a better correlation coefficient than other models, 0.5894. The correlation coefficient for testing data slightly increases. The multilayer perceptron model improved its correlation coefficient when inputting the testing dataset. The multilayer perceptron model's correlation coefficient reached 0.7169 compared to the linear regression function. Therefore, this case study used the multilayer perceptron model as a basis. Results showed that both integrations of optimization models could be successfully used as a basis in waste management decision-making tools with good performance. The decision-making tool provides a faster and efficient way for the user and stakeholder to manage municipal solid waste. Developing a decision-making tool framework for municipal solid waste management can help achieve better municipal solid waste management.

Landfill Leachate Treatment Methods and Its Potential for Ammonia Removal and Recovery - A Review

As a fast-developing country, the population, urbanization and industrialization have developed rapidly in Malaysia. The growth in population increases human activities, leading to a rise in the generation of waste. Municipal solid waste in Malaysia is currently estimated to rise from 23,000 tons/day in 2010 to 30,000 tons/day in 2020. Due to its simplicity and low costs, landfilling is the most common method in the country. However, there are various environmental drawbacks associated with landfills that have attracted social and environmental attention in recent decades. One of the key issues is the generation of leachate from the percolation of rainwater by waste disposal in a landfill. Landfill leachate contains many pollutants including ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) which is a particular concern due to its high concentration in leachate. High concentration of ammonia not only causes health and environmental problems but also affects the efficiency of leachate treatment. Therefore, a pre-treatment to remove ammonia is required before downstream treatment to prevent contamination to the surrounding ground and surface water. In general, leachate can be characterized by physico-chemical and biological parameters. Leachate characterization is essential to evaluate the leachate pollution potentials in the landfill site and to determine the treatment methods. Hence, the present review highlights the recent development of landfill leachate treatment methods and its potential for ammonia removal and recovery. Rather than releasing the extracted ammonia directly into the environment that causes air pollution, ammonia from the stripping process can be recovered and used to produce fertilizers. This review also contributes to the body of knowledge of the ammonia stripping treatment in terms of its efficiency and its application for leachate treatment.

Assessment of environmental, energy and economic prospective of anaerobic digestion of organic municipal solid waste in Malaysia

The continuous increase in population, higher living standards and economic development resulted in the inevitable increase of waste generation, energy consumption, carbon emissions and environmental degradation. The current average operating expenditure (OPEX) of a landfill is RM148/tonne/day for disposing municipal solid waste (MSW) which is an economic burden to the government. Thus, this study investigates the feasibility of biogas production from organic MSW as a renewable source of energy via anaerobic digestion. The economic and environmental benefits including the sales of electricity and fertilizer were investigated. Organic fraction municipal solid waste (OFMSW) was collected at Sahom landfill, Kampar. Waste composition was analyzed to determine the percentage of organic waste. Approximate and ultimate analysis were conducted to characterize the organic samples and to measure the calorific value. The biogas and bio-fertilizer yield were estimated. It was found that OFMSW consists 45% of the total MSW. Conversion of OFMSW to electricity and fertilizer via anaerobic digestion (AD) resulted in 3,274,812.51 m3/day of biogas which consists of 56.62% CH4 and 43.38% carbon dioxide. This can be resulted in 7,494.08 MWh/day of electrical energy and a daily yield of 13,013.73 tonnes of bio-fertilizer. This transforms the economic burden of solid waste management expenditures into an income generating movement.

Colour and COD removal from mature landfill leachate using electro-persulphate oxidation process

Landfilling is the most common method used to treat municipal solid waste in Malaysia. Landfill leachate (LL) is typically produced by infiltration of precipitation through landfill that contains potential hazards to environment. Only 9 operating landfills in Malaysia can be classified as a modern sanitary landfill. Subsequently, substantial amounts of untreated landfill leachates are regrettably discharged into the surrounding environment. There is a need to treat the generated leachate via an effective process such as electro oxidation. Electro-persulphate oxidation process is introduced to degrade complex organic pollutants exists in mature LL. In this study, the impacts of current density, contact time, S2O82− dosage were investigated and optimized using Response Surface Method (RSM). The optimum performance was obtained at current density 44.66 mA/cm2, contact time 68.3 min and S2O82− dosage of 0.88 g/L, respectively. The optimum removal efficiency was 97.30%, and 45.70% for colour and COD. The final pH was 7.12. The treated LL effluent meet the discharge standard limit of Malaysia.

Recycling Behaviour of Malaysian Urban Households and Upcycling Prospects

Households remain the main generator of municipal solid waste in Malaysia. Malaysians produce an average of 30,000 tons of waste per day and only 5 per cent of it is recycled. Malaysian urbanites throw away waste more than normal. The solid waste generated continues to be a costly affair with about two-thirds of the local councils’ total collected annual assessment fees being spent to manage waste. Yet at the same time, Malaysia’s waste recycling rate is way below the average levels. Hence the perennial question remains as to why Malaysian households are not recycling or recycling enough. This study investigates recycling behavior of urban households in a green city. Methodology utilized survey questionnaire approach to 100 households to determine residents’ willingness to participate in recycling activities. Results revealed proactive and reactive behaviors indicating two distinct recycling groups. Analysis generated factors of convenience of recycling facilities and services, environmental involvement recycling benefits and habitual recycling in the two groups. Willingness to recycle differed across the two groups. Recycling benefits and convenience to recycling facilities significantly influenced the behavior of proactive group while only habitual recycling was significant for the reactive group. Findings had implications on policy making and implementation of recycling programs. Upcycling prospects highlighted proactive roles of households to convert useless wastes into quality and marketable products to benefit the environment.

Indeks Pembangunan Lestari Alam Sekitar: Kriteria dan Cabaran Pelaksanaannya dalam Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal Perbandaran di Malaysia

The level of hygiene of a developing country represents the level of its MSW management. Apart from the various policies, acts, awareness campaigns and ongoing implementation of recycling programs which aiming to reduce the volume of municipal solid waste to the disposal area as the last location, the use of index principles, is increasingly favoured in sustainable environmental development. In Malaysia, the implementation of sustainable index principles is still low especially in managing municipal solid waste. Hence this research explores the implementation of the principles of sustainable environmental development index, recommending sustainability indicator based on national development plans and the key challenges in implementing these principles in the management of solid waste in Malaysia. Content analysis techniques were used in this study where reading materials such as journals, thesis reports, research projects, and research reports were used. The results of the analysis have identified the various criteria in existed indices that can be applied in managing municipal solid waste in Malaysia. In addition, the challenges of implementing the sustainable development index in managing municipal solid waste in Malaysia have also been discussed. The results of this study are expected to be used by policy makers and all stakeholders.

Conversion Technologies: Evaluation of Economic Performance and Environmental Impact Analysis for Municipal Solid Waste in Malaysia

The generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) is increasing globally every year, including in Malaysia. Approaching the year 2020, Malaysia still has MSW disposal issues since most waste goes to landfills rather than being utilized as energy. Process network synthesis (PNS) is a tool to optimize the conversion technologies of MSW. This study optimizes MSW conversion technologies using a PNS tool, the “process graph” (P-graph). The four highest compositions (i.e., food waste, agriculture waste, paper, and plastics) of MSW generated in Malaysia were optimized using a P-graph. Two types of conversion technologies were considered, biological conversion (anaerobic digestion) and thermal conversion (pyrolysis and incinerator), since limited data were available for use as optimization input. All these conversion technologies were compared with the standard method used: landfilling. One hundred feasible structure were generated using a P-graph. Two feasible structures were selected from nine, based on the maximum economic performance and minimal environmental impact. Feasible structure 9 was appointed as the design with the maximum economic performance (MYR 6.65 billion per annum) and feasible structure 7 as the design with the minimal environmental impact (89,600 m3/year of greenhouse gas emission).

Assessment of the Environmental, Technical and Economic Issues Associated with Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in Malaysia

Malaysia is a fast emerging economy country and its outlook on sustainable energy production are at the center of debate. Although waste to energy (WtE) technologies are well established but the disconformity of the municipal solid waste (MSW) composition, the complexity of the treatment facilities, and the pollutant emissions still express considerable issues for these technologies. Hence, this study focuses on WtE technologies in Malaysia by considering the energy potentials of the landfill sites and incineration plants as the most common effective MSW in Malaysia. The major environmental, technical and economic issues associated with WtE technologies were evaluated. An annual growth rate of 3.3% has been projected for MSW production in Malaysia. The most common used WtE technologies were incineration and controlled landfill to capture Landfill Gas (LFG). Malaysia MSW contains 60% biodegradable fraction, making landfills a potential source of LFG. Although, the potential of energy recovery from waste in Malaysia is high but the current production is less than 20 MW of electricity per day.

Classification of different types of metal from recyclable household waste for automatic waste separation system

Nowadays, solid waste has become a major problem in Malaysia. However, most people in Malaysia are not aware and take this problem for granted. The rising number of population and massive development in recent years indirectly generated an enormous value of household waste, making the household waste the main generator for solid waste in Malaysia. It stated that only 5 percent of an average 30,000 tons of waste have been recycled in Malaysia. The purpose of the paper is to design a system to separate the metal recyclable household waste automatically and record the data waste collected. There are total of four detectors used to separate the non-metal, steel, copper and aluminum metal waste. The average time used to complete metal separation process by using the proposed prototype is 14.5 seconds. This paper includes a mechanical part, programming part, an electronic design and also the data collected from this proposed system. The system will be programmed using Arduino Mega as a microcontroller to control all the electronic component in the system.

THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DISPOSABLE DIAPERS WASTE AS PARTITION WALL PANEL IN BUILDING MATERIAL

In recent years, there have been an increasing of solid waste in Malaysia which gave negative effects towards the environments from various aspects such as human health, animal habitat, soil condition and space usage of landfill. This paper study the physical properties of disposable diapers waste which is one type of polymer as building materials. This waste is a fundamental property in reducing the cost effective materials, saving time and help increasing sustainability for the environment. The main objective of this study is to determine the density and porosity of the sample with the present of the disposable diapers waste. The presence of the waste as fillers in the mixture reduce the density of sample and create lightweight building materials.

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in Malaysia for Energy Recovery

Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation that grows continuously without proper management become worrying phenomenon. Currently, Malaysia is dependent on landfills with almost 85% of waste collected ending up in dumpsites. In order to propose an alternative for solid waste management plan instead of landfill, and to develop a waste-to-energy (WtE) system, the details study of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated is crucial. This paper presents a proposal for energy recovery to produce RDF by studying the characterization of MSW generated in Malaysia; the physical and chemical properties (proximate and ultimate analysis, calorific value or energy content, and thermal analysis) of the waste components to produce a high-quality RDF. The raw MSW sample consisted of 45% organics and food waste, 13% plastics, 9% papers, and 12% diapers. For raw MSW sample, total moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, and fixed carbon were 14.60%, 7.05%, 69.35% and 9% respectively. Gross calorific value is 4538 kcal/kg and carbon content are 45%. The optimum produced RDF sample was found at operating temperature 400°C with total moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, and fixed carbon were 0.75%, 21.65%, 48.35% and 29.22% respectively. Gross calorific value is 6600.15 kcal/kg and carbon content are 64%.

Simulating a Carbon Trading Advantage from the Municipal Solid Waste Management: The Role of Waste-to Carbon in Malaysia

Management of municipal solid waste in Malaysia has proved to be efficiently, effectively, and adequate. This study has used existing literature and empirical evidences for analyzing the various issues related to carbon emission trading and solid waste management. A measurement of carbon potential value will be conduct after the municipal solid waste generation data was collected completely, and review the advantage of carbon emission trading from the municipal solid waste management in Malaysia, evaluate the benefit of carbon emission trading as an alternative investment tools and basic framework required to implement them. The article suggests that how an appropriate carbon emission trading system may give more benefit and economical value, and sustainable way of developing the future income generation in environmental sector in Malaysia. In other hand, the changing legislative environment is likely to make current practices highly non-optimal and increase pressures for a change of waste management strategy. The article will become more valuable to all those who have some interests in environmental economic and alternative investment sectors and would like to reduce the global warming and climate change effect and develop the potential value related to carbon emission trading in developing countries.

Cultivating Composting Culture Activities among Citizens and Its Beneficial to Prolong the Landfill Lifespan

Currently, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government manage solid waste in Malaysia, with the participation of the private sector. Food waste represents almost 60% of the total municipal solid waste disposed in the landfill. Material valorisation of food waste usually conducted by biological processes such as composting. Compost, an organic amendment, is the final product of the composting process. These processes are efficient, low cost and environmentally friendly alternative for managing food waste and are used extensively worldwide. Therefore, organic solid waste management practices program for the communities in Perlis was conducted. The main objective of this program was to instilling environment awareness especially among Perlis citizens. This study was investigated the impact of food waste or kitchen waste composting to the citizens in Perlis State and the beneficial of compost fertilizer to our environment especially in plant growth. Composting method was taught to the food premises owner, individuals, teachers, and students and their responses to the composting practices were then summarized. In future, we can prolong our landfill lifespan by practicing organic waste composting and can preserving our environment.