Life cycle assessment for solid waste disposal options in Malaysia

The largest percentage of MSW in Malaysia is contributed by the state of Selangor, with a 3,923 tons generated daily. Therefore, the aim of this study is to consider the current condition of the open dumps and sanitary landfills in Selangor from an environmental point of view. Moreover, the local authorities of Malaysia prefer to use landfills that have no liners, biogas capture, and many others as a method of getting rid of collected waste. In Malaysia, this is the first time life cycle assessment (LCA) is being used. In this study, LCA is used to weigh up different treatment scenarios and SimaPro7 (2006) software with CML 2 base line 2000 v2.04 methodology applied to model the three scenarios. Research has shown that all scenarios have a high amount of different potential impacts. Further analysis illustrated that S3 (100 sanitary landfill) is more preferable than the others because of its low contribution on eutrophication, global warming and photochemical oxidation impacts. Results also confirmed that landfilling, which is the current waste disposal method for the country, is not a preferable method environmentally. Further studies should involve other decision-making tools and a wide range of scenarios that consider the economic and social effects of solid waste management methods to introduce environmentally and economically preferable methods to the Malaysian authorities

Application of TOPSIS and VIKOR improved versions in a multi criteria decision analysis to develop an optimized municipal solid waste management model

Selecting a suitable Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method is a crucial stage to establish a Solid Waste Management (SWM) system. Main objective of the current study is to demonstrate and evaluate a proposed method using Multiple Criteria Decision Making methods (MCDM). An improved version of Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) applied to obtain the best municipal solid waste management method by comparing and ranking the scenarios. Applying this method in order to rank treatment methods is introduced as one contribution of the study. Besides, Viekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR) compromise solution method applied for sensitivity analyses. The proposed method can assist urban decision makers in prioritizing and selecting an optimized Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) treatment system. Besides, a logical and systematic scientific method was proposed to guide an appropriate decision-making.A modified TOPSIS methodology as a superior to existing methods for first time was applied for MSW problems. Applying this method in order to rank treatment methods is introduced as one contribution of the study. Next, 11 scenarios of MSW treatment methods are defined and compared environmentally and economically based on the waste management conditions. Results show that integrating a sanitary landfill (18.1%), RDF (3.1%), composting (2%), anaerobic digestion (40.4%), and recycling (36.4%) was an optimized model of integrated waste management. An applied decision-making structure provides the opportunity for optimum decision-making. Therefore, the mix of recycling and anaerobic digestion and a sanitary landfill with Electricity Production (EP) are the preferred options for MSW management

Review and evaluation of municipal solid waste management practices in Malaysia

The review is focused on municipal solid waste (MSW) management practices in Malaysia, waste generation rate, waste composition, and the attitude of the people toward sustainability of waste management practice. Malaysian's MSW management has mainly been landfill where about 80-95% of collected MSW are disposed. Currently, recycling practice is rated at 5% while composting is rarely practiced. Over 30% of collected MSW in Malaysia are recyclable materials but the current status records 5% recovery. Composting has been given poor attention even when over 45% of the MSW generated are organic and biodegradable materials while incineration is still at the early/testing stage. Malaysian MSW is highly commingled because there is no proper sorting thus the waste has high moisture content. Proper sorting at the waste generation point for recovery of reusable materials, recyclable materials and compostable materials will help improve the municipal waste management practice in Malaysia. This will reduce the waste volume sent to landfills and will extend the designed life of the landfills. Awareness on waste reduction is growing but is publicly low implemented which can be attributed to lack of social consciousness

Review of municipal solid waste management options in Malaysia, with an emphasis on sustainable waste-to-energy options

A beautiful and clean environment is the desire of every society. Malaysia is facing an uncontrolled increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation due to population growth, economic advancement, and industrialization, but the current, most common waste disposal practice of landfilling is not sustainable. The increasing standard of living also saps more energy from the power generation systems in which fossil fuels are the major source of fuel for the plants. Malaysia generates about 0.5–1.9 kg/capita/day of MSW; a total of about 25,000 tonnes/day of MSW is currently generated and is estimated to exceed 30,000 tonnes/day by 2020. Malaysian MSW is mainly composed of 45 % food waste, 24 % plastic, 7 % paper materials, 6 % metal, 4 % wood and 3 % glass, which are commingled, and is thus characterised by 52–66 % moisture content. Currently, 80–95 % of collected MSW is landfilled and 5 % is recycled, while composting and energy recovery are rarely practiced. This paper reviews the solid waste practice in Malaysia and looks into alternative management options for sustainability. Malaysia MSW represents recyclable power and energy potential if properly sorted. This study considered the practice of sorting at the source and the use of combustible MSW components as fuel to generate heat for a hybrid solar, flue gas, chimney power plant