J. Mater. Environ. Sci. 7 (5) (2016) 1819-1834 Sabeen et al. ISSN : 2028-2508 CODEN: JMESCN Minimizing the cost of Municipal solid waste management in Pasir Gudang Johor Malaysia A.H. Sabeen1, Norzita Ngadi 1, Zainura Zainon Noor1 1 Department of chemical engineering, University technology Malaysia, Johor, 81310 Johor Bahru, Malaysia Received 15 Jun 2015, Revised 15 Jan 2016, Accepted 25 Jan 2016 *Corresponding author: Norzita Ngadi E-mail: [email protected]; Tel:+60196890870 Abstract Malaysia like any fast developing country is facing a serious problem of the increase in solid waste generation in the urban areas such as Johor Bahru. Therefore, managing of solid waste with less cost is the current dilemma, which is facing the municipality of solid Waste Management in Pasir Gudang. The paper aim is to determine the cost of solid waste management in Pasir Gudang Johor Malaysia. In order to achieve this goal, the composition study was conducted in Tanjung langsat Landfill for one year. This study is to evaluate the current municipal solid Waste Management in order to estimate the cost of transportation from various locations in the municipality to Tanjung Langsat landfill. A model is proposed to minimize the cost of transportation to the landfill consisting recycling and reusing some portions of solid wastes. To conduct the assessment, data was collected through personal visits and interviews of stakeholders of the council, also questionnaire survey and review of literature were carried out. The assessment found that Pasir Gudang municipality generates 240,379 kg per day of solid waste. Based on the study also, the per-capita waste generation is 1.13 kg/person/day. The proposed model could reduce the cost of solid Waste Management expenditures from RM 7,130,884.00 to RM 6,093,872.00 that is a cost saving of RM 1,037,012.00 or 14.5% cost reduction every year. This could further prolong the life span of the landfill in the area under study. Keywords: Municipal Solid Waste management, solid waste management. 1. Introduction Solid waste is defined as the surplus products of human and animals in the solid state from the activities discarding by the society [1] The management of solid waste continues to be a big challenge in urban areas throughout the world, especially in the town, villages, where the solid waste increases at an alarming rate, particularly in the underdeveloped countries [2, 3]. According to [4], world population rose to six billion in 2001 with 46% of this population residing in urban areas. Global municipal solid waste generated in 1997 was about 0.49 billion tons with an estimated annual growth rate of 3.2–4.5% in developed nations and 2–3% in developing nations. Solid waste management in Pasir Gudang has a very serious problem associated with the increased waste in various locations of the Pasir Gudang area. This is also augmented the populations increase and the amount of waste per capita to 1.13 kg/day [5]. However, the real problem is how to manage the solid waste with less cost and impacts to the human and environment. The amounts of waste transferred to Tanjung langsat landfill was 350 ton/day [6]. Therefore, the Solid Waste Management system (SWM) needs to be upgraded to suit the present section of solid waste management. A characteristic of a solid waste management system in Pasir Gudang have posed an array of problems, including the low collections, coverage, irregular collection services, crude [7]. In Malaysia as in many underdeveloped countries there is poor in organization of solid waste management due to the lack of awareness and how to manage solid waste with less cost and effects. The lack of reliable database of mange solid waste management system in the underdeveloped countries this contributed to solid waste management to become a serious problem. 1819 J. Mater. Environ. Sci. 7 (5) (2016) 1819-1834 Sabeen et al. ISSN : 2028-2508 CODEN: JMESCN The negative effects of solid waste to the human and the environment have been considered as a serious problem. The other problems are caused by technical, financial, institutional, economic, and social factors, which constrain the development of effective solid waste management systems. This, therefore, necessitates the search for a way for the solid waste management with less cost and impacts. This study presents an overview of the current solid waste management practices in Pasir Gudang and also how best practices can be sustained towards the solid waste management in Malaysia. Therefore, the main focus of the study is to minimize the cost of solid waste in Pasir gudang Johor, Malaysia through the treatment of some portion of the solid waste. 2. Materials and methods 2.1 Study area Pasir Gudang is an industrial town located in east of Johor Bahru, it 35 Km away from Johor Baharu town. According to Iskandar Malaysia [8] the population of Pasir Gudang Johor Malaysia is 211,900 people in the year 2010. Over time there has been an increase in the population in Johor generally and especially in Pasir Gudang “between 2000 to 2010”. Consequently, the average municipal solid waste (MSW) generated is found to be 0.5 - 0.8 kg by day per capita [9]. As such the high number of the population in Pasir Gudang have resulted with a corresponding high increase in of solid waste in the area which makes (MSW) municipal solid waste management crucial. The traditional way for treatment of solid waste in Malaysia, especially in Johor Bahru to be the landfilling method, which has existed for many decades [6]. Landfills still cover 60 to 90% of the served areas, and are projected to cover more than 75% soon with 80 % of the waste-disposal sites having less than two years of remaining operating life [2]. This has necessitated the urgency for municipalities to secure new landfills is a priority before the existing ones get exhausted Landfilling and open dumping are practiced and this is likely going to continue [10]. 2.2 Classification of (MSW) Municipal solid waste depends on many factors: location, lifestyle, season, packaging, and local authorities. Therefore, detailed classification and quantification of MSW is desired to obtain accurate data concerning estimating the current and future trend in MSW in necessary. In addition, universal classification system is required to be applied by any municipality, irrespective of national or regional differences [10]. There are many sources where solid waste is produced every day. Some of these sources include the households, offices, schools, shops, hotels, and other enterprises. The proportions include paper, plastics, metals, rags and glass and other sources produced of solid waste [11]. Classifications are based on domestic institution, commercial industrial construction and sever based waste. Yet another classification is based on organic combustible inorganic, non-combustible, and putrescible, [12]. Furthermore, there exist other MSW such as those found on the roadside, sewage, dead animals and street sweeping. Above all, as outlined in Table 1 and more specifically, municipal solid waste is defined as any rubbish, or refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, including semisolid or contained gaseous material that is resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations and from any community activities [13]. Table 1: Waste sort analysis by type, content, and source (ISW1970) Types Contents Sources Industrial wastes Food processing wastes , boiler house cinders , Power plants ; Factories ; Companies lumber scraps , metal scraps , shaving Street refuse Leaves , dirt , catch basin dirt , sweepings , Alleys, vacant lots contents, Street , Sidewalks Sewage treatment Solid from coarse screening and from grit Sewage treatment Wastes chambers ; septic tank Plants , septic tanks Demolition Demolition sites to be used for new Lumber pipes, brick, masonry, scrap lumber and and construction buildings ; Renewal, projects other construction materials from razed building. waste expressway, new construction. 1820 J. Mater. Environ. Sci. 7 (5) (2016) 1819-1834 Sabeen et al. ISSN : 2028-2508 CODEN: JMESCN Similarly, Table 2 also gives an outline of solid waste generation, Source activities and location associated with various source classifications. Table 2: Typical solid waste generation, Source activities and location associate with various sources classifications (EPA) Source Activities and location Type of solid wastes Industrial Construction , fabrication , light and heavy Rubbish , food waste manufacturing , refineries , chemical plants , Ashes lumbering , mining , power plants , demolition . Special wastes Open areas Streets , Alleys , parks , vacant lots , , playgrounds, Rubbish , dirt beaches , highway , recreational areas Residential Single – family and multi – family Food waste , Dwellings , low , medium Rubbish , ashes , Special wastes Treatment Water , waste water and industrial treatment process Treatment plant wastes plant sites Principally composed of residual sludge Agriculture Field and row crops , orchards , Alleys, vacant lots Vineyard , dairies , feedlots , farms Street , Sidewalks Stores , restaurants , markets , offices , Food waste , rubbish , ashes Commercial Municipal Buildings , hotels , print shops , medical facilities ,demolition and construction and enterprises Wastes. 2.3 Solid waste generation in Malaysia Solid wastes are testified to be substances that are generated as no more useful or having no values than to be disposed. The increment of solid waste generated to step up to 7.0 t/y million tons in 2010 in Malaysia [15].15 to 39 % million tons of the total municipal solid waste of the year 2010 was expected to be combustion. The percentage of total municipal solid waste being disposed in landfills is decreasing; the actual tonnage was expected to increase from 118 million tons in the year of 1995 to 125 million tons by the year 2010. However, because of the economic boom, the tonnage already increased to 2.5 million tons in 1991 to 7.0 million tons by the year 2010. However, because of the economic boom, the tonnage already increased from 2.5 million tons in 1991to 17.0 million ton in the year 2010.