The bustling economic growth experienced by a developing country like Malaysia demanded the effective disposal of its domestic solid wastes.
The government's commitment in this aspect was proven with the existence of the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry as well as agencies such as the National Solid Waste Department and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (PPSPPA).
The National Green Technology Policy was also drafted.
In the international level, Malaysia had signed the Kyoto Protocol 1997 to deal with the climatic changes and global warning due to the green house effect.
However despite this commitment, there were several issues that needed immediate action and improvement particularly in the management of garbage disposal in the country.
SEVEN SANITARY DISPOSAL SITES
Only seven of the 289 garbage disposal sites in the country were environmental-friendly sanitary sites.
This means less than 2.5 percent of the existing garbage disposal sites in the country were being well managed while the rest were operated on the 'open-dumping' basis.This scenario reflected that solid wastes disposal system in the country was still inefficient.It is critical in the long run.
WATER, AIR POLLUTION
The implication of using open-dumping garbage disposal sites were the permeation (seepage) of 'leachate' into the underground water resources and the release of methane gas (CH4) caused by decomposition of the garbage.
The open-dumping sites also required high maintenance costs apart from causing depreciation in the value of the surrounding real estate.There are also constraints facing the opening of new open-dumping garbage disposal sites posed by the infrastructure requirements due to the limited land available.
A visit by this writer to the sanitary garbage disposal site at Bukit Tagar found the facility to have several 'pleasant' features.
The site has a 'liner' to prevent seepage of the leachate into underground water sources apart from a system of underground pipes that pool the leachate and channelled the susbstance into a treatment plant.
The site was also equipped with the 'daily cover' made up of clay and plastic used to cover the garbage to prevent it from being accessible to pests like rodents and crows.
Hence, Bukit Tagar sanitary garbage disposal dump was a much welcomed garbage disposal facility as compared to the open-dumping sites that discharged foul odour that can be smelled kilometres away.
THE BEST CHOICE
Sanitary garbage disposal sites also have a pipe system that absorb the methane gas released from decomposition of garbage that can be used for power generation.
In the case of the Bukit Tagar garbage disposal site, its 'advance cell' that was closed in November 2007 after operating for two years, now generated 1.0 Megawatt of electricity used for operations at the site.
The existence of the pipes prevented accidental combustion of green house gases.
The latest example on this was the fire at the 300 feet high garbage pile-up at the illegal dump at Kampung Sungai Kertas, Gombak early last September.
The problems related to disposal of solid wastes was not only faced by Malaysia but also in other countries due to rapid economic development, population boom and limited land.
POPULATION INCREASE
In Malaysia, with the population jump forecast at 2.4 percent or 600,000 a year (since 1994) more solid wastes was expected to be produced, reducing the life span of the garbage disposal dumps.
The scenario was further worsened with the statistics that showed 113 of the 289 garbage disposal sites in the country were no longer operating. Most of them were waiting for 'decomissioning'.
However the operations of several of theze sites had to be extended, like tha garbage dumps at Sungai Sedu, Banting that received garbage flow from Sepang and Putrajaya. The site was supposed to be closed last June!
And, most of these 113 dumps were not sanitary garbage disposal facilities. Another interesting fact was that these garbage disposal sites were managed by the local authorities or their appointed firms.
According to the PPSPPA, 114 garbage disposal sites were under the management of the local authorities with 58 in the Peninsula and Labuan Federal Territory, 41 in Sarawak and 15 in Sabah.
LIMITATION, SOLUTION
For Prof Hassan, this issue was rather complex coupled with factors like the shortage of funds and expertise, lack of public awareness apart from the 'grey' legal aspects.
Parliament passed the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Act 2007 on Aug 30, 2007 but due to certain reasons, it had yet to be implemented.
According to industry sources, the delay was due to the privatisation of solid waste management which was yet to be finalised despite the fact that the management of solid waste was being handled by Alam Flora, SWM Environment and Idaman Bersih Sdn Bhd according to their respective zones since 1996.
Presently, the 'employers' of these garbage disposal firms were the respective local authorities.
Back to the garbage disposal dumps issue. The government had implemented the Action Plan 1988 that was aimed at boosting the efficiency of the garbage disposal sites in stages.
The stages -- controlled disposal (phase one), sanitary fill-up with daily covers (phase two), sanitary fill-up with leachate circulation system (phase three) and sanitary fill-up with leachate treatment (phase four).
However, it appeared that this action plan was not working well as proven by the fact that only seven garbage disposal dumps in the country were sanitary facilities and they were operated by the private sector.
Three of these sanitary garbage disposal dumps were in Selangor and one each in Kedah, Pahang, Melaka and Johor.
RECYCLING LENGTHENS LIFE SPAN OF DISPOSAL SITES
The situation was further compounded by the society's lackadaisical attitude on the recycling campaign launched in 1993 and 2000. This was proven by the percentage of recycling being a mere 5.0 percent.
This was a great distance away from the government's target of 22 per cent by the year 2020. What more when compared to a developed nation like Japan where the recycling percentage was at more than 50 percent.
The time has arrived for the government to come out with a more effective measure apart from conducting campaigns and advertisements.
Problems associated with garbage disposal such as the unregular collection of garbage should be dealt with in a transparent and wholesome manner as the amount of solid wastes was continuing to pile up everyday and expected to reach 30,000 tonnes within the next 11 years.
Hence, the society does not really have much choice except to recycle, and this can begin right in the home.
So, Malaysian think it again.....this is serious injuries for our nation..PLEASE!!!!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Urgent need for enforcement of Solid Waste Act?
The second feature from the series of two on garbage disposal
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama)-- The climate changes and high-moisture waste are the factors that made garbage disposal dumps the sole method for efficient garbage disposal in the country.
The other method, the incinerator like that used in Langkawi is unable to meet the disposal of more than 19,000 tonnes of garbage generated daily by the nation, apart from consuming a lot of power.
The cost for constructing an incinerator is also much higher when compared to that for constructing a garbage disposal dump. The former is also able to dispose garbage of much lesser amount.
The other factor is that the incinerator is not cost-effective when it comes to garbage disposal.
"A RM1.5 billion incinerator can only dispose up to 1,200 tonnes of garbage daily, but a sanitary garbage disposal dump built at the cost of RM120 million like that at Bukit Tagar is able to dispose more than 3,000 tonnes of garbage daily," according to civil engineer Mohd Fatimi Said.
According to a source, the government will upgrade 30 of the 175 existing waste disposal dumps into sanitary facilities by the end of 2010. The move will not include the nine sanitary garbage disposal sites to be constructed.
Among the locations marked for the construction of these sanitary garbage disposal dumps are Sungai Udang (Melaka, Lahat (Ipoh, Perak), Bukit Jembalang ( Kemaman, Terengganu) and Ladang Tanah Merah (Negeri Sembilan).
Plus the seven existing sanitary garbage disposal dumps, this will bring the number of such facilities nationwide by the end of the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) to 46, said the source.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
For the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (PPSPPA), the agency has initiated several measures to overcome the shortage of garbage dumpsites and existence of illegal dumps in the country.
Among them is the implementation of solid waste management strategy based on 'waste hierachy' to reduce the volume of garbage sent to disposal sites, as practised in many developed nations.
Among the measures undertaken are the reduction of waste at the source at all premises, encouraging reuse and boosting the quality of items that can be recycled.
It is learnt that the approach is taken as it did not involve provisions of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672).
The government has encouraged the private sector to invest in green technology in the effort to boost efficiency of more environmental-friendly energy usage towards facing the changes in the global climate.
At the recent United nations Organisation Conference On Climate Changes in Copenhagen, Denmark (COP 15), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stated Malaysia's commitment to cut the percentage of carbon dioxide emissions by 40 per cent by the year 2020 with assistance from the developed nations.
RECYCLE
According to news reports, the government has carried out a pilot project on waste separation at source in Putrajaya with the aim of improving public awareness on recycling to reduce the volume of waste needed to be disposed.
The joint-venture effort by the PPSPPA, Solid Waste Management Department, Putrajaya Corporation, Alam Flora and Konsortium SSI-Schaefer is aimed to reduce by 40 per cent the volume of garbage sent for disposal.
"The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act focuses on recycling and has a special allocation for separation of wastes at the source," Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha was quoted as saying by the media.
The pilot project that began last Aug 29 involved 170 apartments at Precint 8, 276 houses (Precint 9) and 105 houses (Precint 10) where each household was provided with two garbage bins of different types, one for organic waste and the other for non-organic waste that can be recycled.
This way, the respondent would be able to recycle and reduce the amount of rubbish sent to disposal sites and at the same time the organic waste can be turned into compost and used for other purposes.
In other words, the separation of garbage at source will assist to lengthen the lifespan of a garbage disposal dump.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Chief Executive Officer of PPSPPA Datuk Zaini Md Nor said the corporation viewed the issue based in the overall context and not limited to collection of garbage and construction of dumps.
He said the PPSPPA, established under Act 673 - the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation Act 2007, that began operations on June 1 2008 is responsble to monitor, supervise and enforce solid waste management and public cleansing in the country.
Among its roles is to enforce Act 672 and make improvisation recommendations whenever necessary.
PPSPPA is also responsible to inculcate public awareness and encourage public participation for sustainable management of public waste and cleansing such as reduction in waste and lodging reports on illegal dumping.
The corporation is also responsible for new technology-related research, such as recycling technology, 'waste to energy' technology, and waste treatment facilitating technology.
According to Zaini, in the short run the corporation would manage the implementation of closing non-operating garbage disposal dumps, upgrading and construction of new disposal sites as planned by the Solid Waste Management Department in 9MP.
"The corporation is the implementor of policies determined by the department", he said.
The PPSPPA also collaborated with the concessionaires to improve the garbage collection schedule that frequently received complaints from the public apart from providing feedback to the local authorities.
The garbage collection issue should be dealt first before the public's mentality on recycling is changed.
CLEAN MALAYSIA
The corporation, with the staff count of 900 at 52 district and state offices nationwide, is optimistic towards implementing its responsibilities in making Malaydia a clean country as required by its vision.
"To make the vision a success, we need the support of the society", said Zaini, adding that PPSPPA is conducting a survey on public awareness for recycling that involved more than 45,000 respondents nationwide since last August.
"The study is expected to be completed by end of this month. Through it, we will know the level of public awareness, problems and their suggestions in this issue", said Zaini.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama)-- The climate changes and high-moisture waste are the factors that made garbage disposal dumps the sole method for efficient garbage disposal in the country.
The other method, the incinerator like that used in Langkawi is unable to meet the disposal of more than 19,000 tonnes of garbage generated daily by the nation, apart from consuming a lot of power.
The cost for constructing an incinerator is also much higher when compared to that for constructing a garbage disposal dump. The former is also able to dispose garbage of much lesser amount.
The other factor is that the incinerator is not cost-effective when it comes to garbage disposal.
"A RM1.5 billion incinerator can only dispose up to 1,200 tonnes of garbage daily, but a sanitary garbage disposal dump built at the cost of RM120 million like that at Bukit Tagar is able to dispose more than 3,000 tonnes of garbage daily," according to civil engineer Mohd Fatimi Said.
According to a source, the government will upgrade 30 of the 175 existing waste disposal dumps into sanitary facilities by the end of 2010. The move will not include the nine sanitary garbage disposal sites to be constructed.
Among the locations marked for the construction of these sanitary garbage disposal dumps are Sungai Udang (Melaka, Lahat (Ipoh, Perak), Bukit Jembalang ( Kemaman, Terengganu) and Ladang Tanah Merah (Negeri Sembilan).
Plus the seven existing sanitary garbage disposal dumps, this will bring the number of such facilities nationwide by the end of the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) to 46, said the source.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
For the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (PPSPPA), the agency has initiated several measures to overcome the shortage of garbage dumpsites and existence of illegal dumps in the country.
Among them is the implementation of solid waste management strategy based on 'waste hierachy' to reduce the volume of garbage sent to disposal sites, as practised in many developed nations.
Among the measures undertaken are the reduction of waste at the source at all premises, encouraging reuse and boosting the quality of items that can be recycled.
It is learnt that the approach is taken as it did not involve provisions of the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672).
The government has encouraged the private sector to invest in green technology in the effort to boost efficiency of more environmental-friendly energy usage towards facing the changes in the global climate.
At the recent United nations Organisation Conference On Climate Changes in Copenhagen, Denmark (COP 15), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stated Malaysia's commitment to cut the percentage of carbon dioxide emissions by 40 per cent by the year 2020 with assistance from the developed nations.
RECYCLE
According to news reports, the government has carried out a pilot project on waste separation at source in Putrajaya with the aim of improving public awareness on recycling to reduce the volume of waste needed to be disposed.
The joint-venture effort by the PPSPPA, Solid Waste Management Department, Putrajaya Corporation, Alam Flora and Konsortium SSI-Schaefer is aimed to reduce by 40 per cent the volume of garbage sent for disposal.
"The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act focuses on recycling and has a special allocation for separation of wastes at the source," Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha was quoted as saying by the media.
The pilot project that began last Aug 29 involved 170 apartments at Precint 8, 276 houses (Precint 9) and 105 houses (Precint 10) where each household was provided with two garbage bins of different types, one for organic waste and the other for non-organic waste that can be recycled.
This way, the respondent would be able to recycle and reduce the amount of rubbish sent to disposal sites and at the same time the organic waste can be turned into compost and used for other purposes.
In other words, the separation of garbage at source will assist to lengthen the lifespan of a garbage disposal dump.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Chief Executive Officer of PPSPPA Datuk Zaini Md Nor said the corporation viewed the issue based in the overall context and not limited to collection of garbage and construction of dumps.
He said the PPSPPA, established under Act 673 - the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation Act 2007, that began operations on June 1 2008 is responsble to monitor, supervise and enforce solid waste management and public cleansing in the country.
Among its roles is to enforce Act 672 and make improvisation recommendations whenever necessary.
PPSPPA is also responsible to inculcate public awareness and encourage public participation for sustainable management of public waste and cleansing such as reduction in waste and lodging reports on illegal dumping.
The corporation is also responsible for new technology-related research, such as recycling technology, 'waste to energy' technology, and waste treatment facilitating technology.
According to Zaini, in the short run the corporation would manage the implementation of closing non-operating garbage disposal dumps, upgrading and construction of new disposal sites as planned by the Solid Waste Management Department in 9MP.
"The corporation is the implementor of policies determined by the department", he said.
The PPSPPA also collaborated with the concessionaires to improve the garbage collection schedule that frequently received complaints from the public apart from providing feedback to the local authorities.
The garbage collection issue should be dealt first before the public's mentality on recycling is changed.
CLEAN MALAYSIA
The corporation, with the staff count of 900 at 52 district and state offices nationwide, is optimistic towards implementing its responsibilities in making Malaydia a clean country as required by its vision.
"To make the vision a success, we need the support of the society", said Zaini, adding that PPSPPA is conducting a survey on public awareness for recycling that involved more than 45,000 respondents nationwide since last August.
"The study is expected to be completed by end of this month. Through it, we will know the level of public awareness, problems and their suggestions in this issue", said Zaini.
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