Current waste generation of e-waste and challenges in developing countries: an overview

The rapid growth of in information and telecommunication technology ((ICT) has led to the improvement in the capacity of computers but simultaneously decrease the product lifetime which contribute to rapid amount of e-waste. This paper reviews about electric and electronic waste (e-waste) challenges faced by developing countries. There were several challenges such as awareness of citizen, existing of informal sector, financing problem as well as regulation of developing countries itself. Informal sectors are most active in waste recycling in developing countries because the profits made from the resale of recovered materials. They do not have an issue how to deal with the environment as long as they got the valuable and precious material from e-waste. Moreover, a lack of financial program forms a major drawback as e-waste treatment requires costly and advanced technology. Current e-waste generation keeps increasing in developing countries such as India, China, and Malaysia. The recovery facilities have increased tremendously as a result from the generation itself. Therefore, social approaches and technical approaches are both needed in order to minimize the problem. Social approaches are changing the public behaviour by improving community through training and encouragement of partnerships in e-waste management

The effects of socio-economic characteristics on household wastes in Johor Bahru district

Studies on the effects of socio-economic backgrounds, lifestyles of individuals and recycling behavior on the generation of household wastes are lacking in the country. The objectives of the study include to analyze the effects of personal factors such as income, age, race, marital status, family size, and housing characteristics, as well as attitudes toward waste minimization on the amount of wastes produced and recycled. Survey data and waste characterization studies were gathered and conducted within both rural and urban areas within the Johor Bahru District involving samples of 500 urban and 385 rural families. Various statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program. The study reveals that recycling activities not only vary according to urban and rural differences, but also to the types of recyclable materials concerned. There is a significant difference in the recycling of papers and newspapers, paper cardboards, and plastics amongst the two communities. Based on linear regression analysis, newspaper recyclers amongst rural residents appear to have low income and are married, while the plastic recyclers older groups. On the other hand, urban residents who recycle paper, cardboards, and plastics appear to be older with low educational background (with p < 0.05 and 0.01). Racial factor was found to be significant only amongst urban residents in terms of the selling of newspapers, as the Chinese (65% amongst themselves) and Malays (46%) were found to be active in the activity. Renters are generally found to be non-recyclers in the study areas. The study supports the theory connecting the environmental values with recycling. Those who support the need to recycle are also found to separate their wastes, reuse plastics and cardboards indicating the positive correlation between values and recycling. Average solid waste figures per household in the study area are 1.78 kg (urban) and 2.12 kg (rural), with per capita weights of 0.41 and 0.48 kg, respectively (which is lower than the average per capita for the whole Johor Bahru area (1.29) due to the exclusion of yard and bulky wastes from the study. From the linear regression, the explanatory variables for the wastes in the urban area are found to be marital status and home-cooking activities (p < 0.01) with a correlation value, R of 0.45). Rural wastes, on the other hand, increase as the family size (p < 0.01) and the frequency of home cooking increase (p < 0.01) with R value of 0.21. The research supports previous findings indicating higher organic and food wastes in the lower-income or rural areas (38 %) and higher paper wastes (30 %) in the urban or high-income areas. Both areas give strong support for resource recycling facility, an increase in number of recycling programs, promotions, and the enforcement of a mandatory recycling and source separation programs all with mean values of between 3.6 and 4.2 (i.e., 5 being ‘strongly agree’)

A note on the influence of household behavior on the generation of municipal solid waste in Johor Bahru Tengah

This note presents results of a study involving 885 residents in Johor Bahru area. The average solid waste generated per household was 1.93 kg per day. Several behavioral factors were found to be influencing the amounts of solid wastes generation. Based on multiple regression analysis, the significant explanatory variables are lifestyle and eating habit, housing characteristics such as length of stay in a particular home, marital status, and the family size. The R2 is 0.4. Surprisingly, income level has no significant effect on the solid waste generation in the study area

Air quality study in Pasir Gudang industrial, commercial and residential areas

Pasir Gudang is well-known for its industrial activities in the State of Johore, which contribute to air quality problems in the surrounding areas. A study was carried out around the Pasir Gudang areas, particularly the Town Centre Planning Block (BP1) as well as Industrial and Ports Planning Block (BP2). Five sampling stations were selected which include two in the industrial areas(Jalan Emas 2 and Jalan Keluli 3 Stations), two in the residential (Taman Mawar and Taman Air Biru Stations) and another in the commercial area (Kompleks Perbandaran Pasir Gudang Station). The parameters involved in the data collection stage include CO, NO2, SO2, O3, and temperature. These readings were recorded for twelve hours from 0800 until 2000 hours during both weekdays and weekends, using GrayWolf DirectSense TOX PPC Kit. The data collected are then analysed in the graphic form in order to obtain the trend of the gases concentration with time, types of land use and temperature. Based on the results obtained from the study conducted, the lowest air quality levels are on weekdays in the industrial, and on weekend in the commercial area. However, the CO and O3 concentrations obtained for all areas are still below the Recommended Malaysian Air Quality Guidelines (RMG), i.e., below 30 ppm for CO and below 0.10 ppm for O3. Whereas the NO2 and SO2 concentrations detected have exceeded the RMG limits for NO2 (0.17 ppm) and SO2 (0.13 ppm) at certain hours on both weekday and weekend, especially during the peak hours. Even though the situation is still under control, however, the study proves that the air quality in Pasir Gudang should be monitored and could be improved. The data obtained should be beneficial to decision makers as far as planning for future industrial developments in the area is concerned

Noise produced by transverse rumble strips: a case study on rural roadways

Transverse roadway strips (TRS) are a common approach used by the local authorities in Malaysia for the purpose of road safety on rural roadway. However, there were complaints made by residents about the excessive noise pollution produced by TRS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the external noise produced by the application of TRS, to evaluate and to anticipate the annoyance response due to installation of TRS. The investigations were carried out through the changes of noise level indices, estimation of the annoyance response using the traffic noise index (TNI) and anticipation of resisident response anoyance. Measurements of the external noise level produced by the TRS were taken for two hours at two location with and without TRS. Results showed that TRS increased the equivalent noise level, LAeq1hour, L101hour and L901hour by as much as 14 dB(A), 16 dB(A) and 9 dB(A) respectively. TNI values also increased as much by as 42% and exceeded the suggested value for planning purposes of 74 dB (A) for 3% annoyance from the social surveys. This investigation shows that TRS noise has a very strong impact on the community and this was the reason behind the complaints made by people living in study area

Solid waste management system using mobile incinerator in small community

The role of incineration of waste and equipment used for it has changed radically in the recent years. While they were formerly notorious as pollutant spewing technical monsters in the eyes of citizens' groups, nowadays, thermal waste treatment facilities are considered to be the essential pillars of sustainable, forward-looking recycling and raw material sectors

Overview of subsurface constructed wetlands application in tropical climates

Subsurface flow constructed wetlands (SFCW) have specific capacity to absorb and retain particulate matters, nutrients and other pollutants which enters water bodies through surface runoff, domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater and also from plantations. However, as the field becomes more releva nt towards sustainability environment, the SFCW study is often significant for developing countries with tropical climates where the zones are warm and humid weather in all years. SFCW showed an increase rate of contaminant up-take in warmer climates; therefore this treatment has been expected to operate more efficiently in tropical regions. SFCW recent techno logies are also excellent in the utilisation of natural processes and the high process stability which cont ributing a high nutrient capturing capacity. Furthermore, the systems are simple to construct and less expensive option than aquatic plant systems which is a benefit in many developing countries. Accordingly, this paper highlights some SFCW applications on nutrients capturing capabilities (nitrogen and phosphorus), general view on construction, operation and maintenance of the SFCW and vegetation selection for start-up. In addition, application of different wastewater types such as landfill leachate, domestic wastewater and industrial wastewater are also discussed in brief. Future considerations in choosing appropriate technology a spect of wetlands applications such geographic information system (GIS), compost material and bio- particle are highlighted

Air pollution levels in Pasir Gudang commercial, residential, and industrial areas

The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing unhealthy air. The AQI is calculated for four major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide