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SECTION A.
Based on the field trip to the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfills, write an essay on how smart
companies could use environmental strategy to innovate, create value, and build
competitive advantage.

Figure 1 : Overall view of Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill from the top.
Everyday, when the garbage truck passes by our houses, most of us would hold our
breath. This is due to the rubbish is too smelly and all of us will unlike that situation. But did we
know, where actually the trucks delivers the rubbish to?. As we know the amount of domestic
waste that are generated every day is expected to increase at 2%, but our landfills have a definite
life span and land is running in scarce. Did we know how the professionals manage the solid
waste?. The importance to implement landfill operational controls, because it will influence the
significance of the water content of the waste as received and it's influence on tropical rainfall
patterns.



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Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill (BTSL) is a project under Malaysia Local Government and
Housing Ministry. It is operated by KUB-Berjaya Enviro Sdn. Bhd. (KBE), that is a joint
venture of KUB Malaysia and Berjaya Group. My friends and I as Semester five Human
Resources Students with my lecturer went to Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill which held on 29
April 2014. BTSL aims to provide environmental solutions consist of solid waste management
and be the pioneer of the green technology. KBE has been running the 1,700 acre Bukit Tagar
Sanitary Landfill since 2005, which is the largest and most advanced landfill in Malaysia. It is
located at the Hulu Selangor and Kuala Lumpur region. The landfill is receiving 2,800 tonnes of
municipal solid waste daily.
After we arrive at the entrance of the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill (BTSL) we were
welcomed with person in charge with the interesting presentation . Through the presentation we
have learned and introduce about BTSL. BTSL is known as the premier sanitary landfill in
Malaysia which developed by KUB Berjaya Enviro Sdn. Bhd. Whereby to provide, safe,
efficient, environmentally friendly solid waste management solution. It is capable of providing
over 50 years and above solution for solid waste and not toxic management solution. BTSL is the
first in Malaysia which comprise of 700-acre with an additional 1000-acre buffer zone. It is
designed is a fully engineered Level four landfills, which provide the maximum protection to the
environment. This level provides the maximum protection of the environment which full HDPE
membrane liner, leachate treatment system which is fully automated by SCADA system.
Once presentation finished, we were guided to the power generator which run the
methane gas that was collected from the landfill area. BTSL has developed two gas flares to
treat the landfill gas and now it is operating 1.2 megawatt gas engine to generate electricity from
methane gas. BTSL also has implemented Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement with
TNB to supply green energy to the to the national grid that able for 21 years.
After we visit the power generator, we continue to visit the landfill area. The view was
well organized and it has changed our perspective of the landfill that which usually unorganized
with an unpleasant smell. After the waste is disposed in the designated tipping platform, which
there are specialized compactors. It is used for daily application of daily earth cover to maintain
maximum air capacity, hygiene and the most important is to prevent odour.

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Our next visit was on the leachate management and treatment plant. The leachate
treatment plant that was fully automated by SCADA system which control of all the valves and
pumps, and enabling the plant to operate automatically. The leachate treatment plant comprise 4
sequential batch reactor (SBR) lagoons, 24 aerators, chemical storage and dosing system,
balancing tanks, sludge thickener and dissolved air flotation (DOF) plant. Lechate undergoes a
biological process for 24 hours, it was transferred to the DOF plant to remove any residue. Then,
treated leachate will convey to the reed beds which consist of Phragmites plant capable of
absorbing residues in the treated leachate to improve its quality. After that the residue from the
DOF plant is transferred to the sludge thickener and undergoes dewatering before it was
transferred to the landfill. Lastly, the treated effluent undergoes last stages of manual checking
before it irrigated in a 120-acre field. 4 leachate holding-ponds on site provide 180,000 cubic
meters leachate storage capacity to attenuate peak flows during wet seasons ad the holding ponds
also provide leachate storage when the leachate treatment plant is undergoing maintenance
From my observation, The company is smart by using environmental strategy, since it is
located far from the housing area. It is located 50 km north of Kuala Lumpur, it is one of the
large scale, modern. It is situated in Ulu Selangor, The BukitTagar Landfill occupies a total land
area of 1700 acres. The company is smart because this location is isolated location of the site
and separation from the region of the importants groundwater aquifers. It also have combined
with the application of top-class landfill engineering. This implementation by the company have
ensured that the local environment is safe from the pollution that came from the garbage site.
Other than that, the company have plan the environmental strategy by making sure it can
be used in the long-term capacity of 120 million metric tonnes of air spaces. This facility is
sufficient capacity to service the projected total municipal solid waste to be generated in Kuala
Lumpur and Selangor over the next 50 years abd above. This will ensure that, in the 50 years
forward our environmental site still will be used in the long term and our environment will be
preserved.
The Bukit Tagar have also involved in the intensive fast-track program of planning,
design and construction. It is aimed to provide a long-term solution that supports the
Government of Malaysia objective in waste recovery, recycling, re-use and waste recovery.
This is one of the best implementations of the company to preserve our environment since it will

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reduce deforestation and cutting trees. In the 2004, Consult Sdn Bhd was engaged by the
developer, KUB Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd, to design, plan and supervise the development of the
Bukit Tagar waste disposal facility. This is according to the objective to overcome the problem
associates with the closure existing landfills at the Taman Beringin in Kepong and Air Hitam
Puchong. The facility was successfully developed on a fast track programme to be operational
within a six-month period whilst fully satisfying the requirements of the Department of
Environment (DOE) and the received its first load of waste on 1 April 2005 and now handles
some 3,000 tonnes of waste per day.
In terms of to preserve the international interest in turn of reflecting the national interest,
health and safety of the regional community, this company has culminated in the construction
of a world class sanitary landfill which represents the very best in the construction of the world
class sanitary landfill which represents the very best in the private-public sector cooperation.
The company has achieved the highest environmental standards in the related waste
management system, since the landfills have also a demonstrably world class in all aspects.
There is a 500m buffer zone that ensures the landfill isolation and natural topography provides
the barrier to visual observation, odour and noise. This company can create the competitive
advantage since its location is close to the North-South Highway. The competitive advntage of
this , it can reduce the traffic impacts over those from the former landfills and at the same time
it will ensured that the facility represents a new standard in environmental protection.
Other than that Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill amongst its innovative engineering
achievement is T&T Konsults involvement in the design, construction and operation of the
largest leachate treatment plant in South East Asia. The size is equivalent in the size of the
previous largest leachate treatment plant in situated in Hong Kong. The plant is fully automated
with sophisticated SCADA control systems where the operator intervention requirements are
minimized. The leachate treatment process involves to treat locate to achieve a zero discharge of
the treated leachate from the site. The capacity of this plant is 1,000 m3/day and has been
designed and developed to allow modular expansion up to 3,000 m3 /day.


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Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill management also guaranteeing that there will be no
leachate can be discharged from the site without the detection and treatment. The process
includes extensive reed beds polishing and land irrigation of treated leachate and the storage
ponds, aeration ponds and the treatment plant have been provided with comprehensive secondary
containment and monitoring system. From this treatment process the environment cleanliness
can be preserve since there will no pollution especially for the ponds and river. We can see three
treatment for the leachate water and the third treatment will make the water is pure and clean
from other substances and It is also safe for drinks. Leachate at the landfill is carefully drained
and channelled to the computerized leachate treatment plant that runs on a 24-hour cycle. This
produces treated leachate that is further purified by reed beds, leaving behind clear water that is
dispersed through an extensive sprinkler system on-site.

Figure 2 : Leachate waste management and treatment.
This landfill also is designed to receive mix of non-hazardous commercial domestic and
inert water. It is situate in the hot tropical climate and receives some 3m of rainfall annually.
Monthly rainfall typically ranges from 150-360 mm, with no distinct monsoon season. The
landfill and the collected operational practices are very important in determining the leachate

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produced. The company implement good surface water control during operation of the landfill,
which it includes the minimizing the area of the working face, diversion of clean storm water
away from the working face and also timely, appropriate use of daily cover soil, are the critical
management methods need to minimize the quantity of leachate produced at a landfill site.
The Bukit Tagar facility has set the new standards in meeting the environmental
requirements, landfill design and international design standards. It is also can be observed that
the company is successfully demonstrated that the leachate can be treated and managed even in
the tropical zones with the high annual rainfall and intensities.











Figure 3 : Bukit Tagar Renewable Energy Centre
The best that I found, what is the special about this solid waste management at BTSL is
about how they use the residue n substances produce from rubbish, converted it into the usable to
our society and country that is in terms of electricity. The methane or biogas that generated from
the landfill is channeled to the gas engines to generate electricity. This engine generates

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electricity for the national grid under the Feed-in Tariff scheme in Malaysia. The company used
the methane at the site to generate 4MW and up to 10MW. The company was sold to TNB and
fed to the National grid. As I mention earlier, based on my field trip, BTSL has developed two
gas flares to treat the landfill gas and now it is operating 1.2 megawatt gas engine to generate
electricity from methane gas. BTSL also has implemented Renewable Energy Power Purchase
Agreement with TNB to supply green energy to the to the national grid. We were able for 21
years. We were able to see the bluish-purple flame inside the gas flares.
Other than that, KBE also explores the use of solar power by installing solar panels on
top of the filled landfill cells. The special about the BTSL landfill, it has the most Certified
Emission Reduction or carbon credits issued for a landfill project in Southeast Asia under the
UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) scheme based on the Kyoto Protocol. As we know
that this solar power use in the BTSL, so it can create the competitive advantages as compared to
the other rivals.
Based on my overall observation, BTSL has created its own name and has given many
positive contributions to the local environment. BTSL is the premier sanitary landfill in the
region by providing safe, efficient and environmentally friendly solid waste management
solution. BTSL also have won the award that recognizes the efforts of KBE in operating the
environmentally sound landfill. KUB Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd (KBE) the operator of the Bukit
Tagar Sanitary Landfill was recently named the winner of CDL Outstanding Singapore
Environmental Achievement Award, which was organized by the Singapore Environment
Council. As we know that BTSL has been running since 2005, which is the advance and the
largest landfill in Malaysia
According to the newspaper articles, The Star online KUB-Berjaya Enviro Bhd managing
director Chock Eng Tah, He said that the company manages the site at current rates of disposal,
the landfill should be good for another 70 years. As we know a sanitary landfill are different
from other s as it is no mauntains of rubbish, but it is manage by careful engineering to ensure
the leachate, liquid that has gone through the waste and contains all kinds of toxins, that is
carefully drained and treated.

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BTSL have successfully created system where rainwater does not mix with leachate and
next will runs into stormwater ponds where there are fish and plants. Otherwise, there are other
sanitary landfill in Selangor such as Tanjung Dua Belas in Kuala Langat and Jeram in Kuala
Selangor which both are operated by Worldwide Holdings Bhd but it still the premier sanitary
landfill in the region that providing safe, efficient and environmentally friendly solid waste
management solution.
Currently this sanitary landfills have a tipping fee of between RM28.80 and RM 50 per
tonne which is one of the cheapest in the world. It is cheapest compared to other like Germany
charges between RM1000 and 1400, China RM60 and RM75, Australia RM215. We can side ee
that BTSL is one of the cheapest in the world and provide the best services.
For the environmental monitoring, The surface water and groundwater quality monitoring
tests are carried out monthly at BTSL that is pH, ammonia, e-coli, suspended solids and trace
metals are among the major parameters tested. The air quality and noise levels are also
monitored quarterly for submission to the Department of Environment in the Quarterly
Environment Monitoring Report.
For the emergency containment system, BTSL is equipped with an emergency response
system and leachate containment bund to prevent accidental leachate breakout into external
watercourses. Leachate is held within the bund to enable remedial works to be undertaken. This
safety measure surpasses the requirement of the Department of Environment, and components
such as continuous flow meter at monitoring bund, detention dam for upper catchment and
containmment bund at leachate treatment plant and holding .
Last but not the least, I can conclude that Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill is one of the
good examples of how sanitary landfills should be planned and manage especially in Asia
Country. It has provided the best leachate management and treatment, tapping on the biogas
generated for the electricity. This wastage management should be as an example for the forward
future of landfills in Asia, as compared to the commonly seen open dumps and unsanitary
landfills with no proper management and treatment processes.


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Figure 4 : The group photo.











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SECTION B.
As vast opportunities for Eco-advantages are, successfully exploiting them is not easy.
Describe the reasons for environmental failure.
In assigning responsibility for environmental failure, there should not only certain party
only need to take the responsibility. Each party should take part in preserving our environment
and earth. Why environmental failure always occurs is mainly because of lack of people or
society concern on the environment issue. For example nowadays there is climate change
problem adversely due to the human activities that cause environmental failure.
Based on the Drill Baby Drill said that environmentalism can not be separated from
economics. Economies will be affected if our environmental become worse. What are the
reasons behind this issue?. From my opinion, one of the reasons that leads to environmental
failure are because there are certain company use system that focuses on the optimizing
production only without taking care for our environment. The system that only sees profit and
productivity may drive for the lost of control for taking care our mother nature. This will
increasingly lead to consequence of out of control activities. The ompany will do anything to get
the profit such as deforestation and other activities that harm our environment and largely will
contribute to the environmental problem.
Other than that, maybe there are lower understanding towards that natural system. For
example, what is the ecosystem and how human activities can harm the ecosystem and
environment. The company should do the right activities that are free from wastage that can
contaminate our river water and air. The company needs to analyze first whether their activities
will affect the environment. Maybe there are less implementation because our government not
too strict regarding this area. Less awareness towards this issues will harm our environment.
Ironically, perhaps to understand why environmental movement has failed, we need go
back to the basic value of the early environmental movement that has been forgotten or, out of
political correctness that have been put aside. May be people should review and more concern
about our basic values to appreciate our environment. People can get again to remember the
Earth Day by Gaylord Nelson. But as the society we does not have to appreciate our

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environment just only during selected days because there are very crucial for every individual
have the awareness to preserve and conserve our environment.
In addition, lacking of access to the reading sources according to the environmental
failure is one of the factors. They does not have intention to read about our environment but
only access another issues like sports and politics. This will show the inconsistency of the
information gathered especially about the current environmental issues. If they access to the
current environment issue such as the global warming, the species extinction and other
environmental problem so that they will be more alert and find ways to minimize the risks of
environmental failure from happen.
Next factors that may lead to the environmental failure is the over consumption along the
population explotion as the cause of the enviromnmental degration. To over simplify , over
consumption from the population of peoples nowadays that is comes from their lifestyle can
cause the environmental failure. As nowadays there are various technologies that comfort
peoples lifestyle and convenience, but it is not good for our environment and can cause
environmental failure. For example, due to people lifestyle nowadays by using the air
conditioner can comfort their self but there are adverse effect that will harm our environment
such as the thinning of ozone layer. If peoples nowadays have awareness, they should minimize
the usage of technologies or changes their lifestyle. Somestimes they need to think about the
effect in the next 10 or 15 years or can be said as the long term effect. People should let go their
their egos and start thinking for the long term effects.
As we know that the baby boomers is the last generation that either member living on
farm or had parents and grandparents that lived on a farm. This gave the connection for them
with the land even after they moved to the big cities. The awareness of the generation X towards
mother nature is higher than the generation Y. This is due to their life in the big cities. Parents
should provide the environmental information to their children. This will make our younger
generation would be more alert and drive them to be the person with the attitude towards the
environment.



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People need to organize a new kind of movement that will actually begin to slow and
ultimately reverse environmental degradation. As things stand, the term environmentalism is
probably inadequate. Within the field of environmentalism alone, there are a variety of issues
which are currently in competition such as deforestation, air and water quality are among
environmental. As are the development issues economic policy, industrial practices, energy
sources, built environment, trade, population and resulting lack of coordination or wholeness
contributes to confusion.
General Plans are often comprised of elements that include of infrastructure, economic
development, land use, housing, circulation, conservation, parks and recreation open space,
health policy, transportation, scenic routes, air quality, arts and culture, design, noise, safety,
historic preservation and among others and the law usually requires that there be internal
consistency between elements. Beyond local planning lies regional plans. When preparing or
revising a general plan, cities and counties should carefully analyze the implications of regional
plans for their planning area. General Plans are required to include an analysis of the extent to
which the general plans policies, standards, and proposals are consistent with regional plans that
will provide the legal basis for allocating state and federal funds, as in the case of transportation
and water quality facilities. Other regional plans, such as air quality plans, spell out measures
which local governments may institute in order for the region to meet state and federal standards
to make sure our environment will be preserved.
So planning tools exist is very important though still very inadequate, to promote
sustainable development within given parts of the earths surface.. I really believe that, everyone
can comprehend why land-area plans everywhere should be relatively integrated.
The international community must reaching for the big global picture, that everyone can
grasp the best way to implement it. For me, Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill is the one of the best
example on how company needs to take steps in preserving our environment and to maintain the
integrity of the environment. BTSL that operated by KUB-Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd (KBE), a
joint-venture of KUB Malaysia and Berjaya Group aim to provide environmental solutions
consist of solid waste management and to be the pioneer of the development of green energy
technology should be praised as the successful company that implement the right steps in
preserve the environment.

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REFERENCE

Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill webpage, http://www.kbenviro.com.my/landfill-
management.php#&panel1-2

Why the global environmental movement is failing, http://theconversation.com/why-the-global-
environmental-movement-is-failing-7819

David Suzuki Foundation, Solution In Our Nature, http://www. David Suzuki.org/blogs/science-
matters/2012/05/the-fundamental-failure-of-environmentalism.