SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT
EKC378
DR AZAM T MOHD DIN
SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
Local scenario
• Over the past 10 years, generation of Malaysia MSW has
increased more than 91% [8].
• In 2001, estimated 5.475 million tons of solid waste
generated which is about 0.81 kg/capita/day [9] while in
main cities, the figure escalated to 1.7 kg/capita/day[10].
• The highest average generation rate per capita of MSW was
reported in Penang at 1.1 kg/capita/day [11]. A report found
that about 7.34 million tons of solid wastes were generated in
Penang on 2006, enough to fill up 42 buildings [6].
Global Scenario
• Current global MSW generation levels are
approximately 1.3 billion tonnes per year, and are
expected to increase to approximately 2.2 billion
tonnes per year by 2025.
• This represents a significant increase in per capita
waste generation rates, from 1.2 to 1.42 kg per
person per day in the next fifteen years.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTURBANDEVELOPM
ENT/Resources/336387-1334852610766/Chap3.pdf
SW characteristics
• Putrescible waste – animal and vegetable waste
resulting from food prep. This type of waste
decomposes rapidly and may quickly produce bad
smell.
• Municipal solid waste – common garbage i.e.
durable/non-durable goods, containers, packaging,
food wastes, yard trimmings, organic wastes etc.
In-class Example
Solution:
• Given:

Population = 253,000
MSW = 2180 ton · wk-1
325 trucks · wk-1
2 loads · truck-1 · d-1
Truck capacity = 4.5 ton
Operation = 5 d · wk-1
a. MSW generated per person

2180ton wk 1wk  5d   1.723kg  capita

1 1
1
 d 1
253,000people1ton  1000kg 1
b. Average load and capacity of each truck

2180ton  wk 1
 0.67ton  load1
Average load =
2load  truck
1
 
 d 1 5d  325ruck  wk 1 
0.67ton
Capacity =  100%  14.9%
4.5ton
c. Volume of MSW disposed each week

V
2180ton wk 1000kg  ton   8226m
1 1
3
 wk
265kg  m 3

Density for
Loose combustible solid waste = 115 kg.m3
Collected solid waste = 180-450 kg.m3
Compacted solid waste (landfill) = 350-500 kg.m3
Well compacted solid waste = 600-750 kg.m3
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
VIDEO SESSION
• VID 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSIRzuE78TA

• VID 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFmr6Yapn_A
SOLID WASTE REDUCTION
• Combustion - Excess oxygen
• Pyrolysis - Inert
• Gasification - Partial combustion, O2 below
stoichiometric requirement
Sanitary Landfill Disposal
Land disposal method that practice
appropriate engineering techniques and waste
management system in minimizing
environmental hazards by spreading the waste
to the smallest practical volume, and applying
and compacting cover material on daily based
operation.
SLD Operation
• Area method operation
• 3-step process:
• Spreading the waste
• Compacting
• Covering
Regulations for Landfill Disposal
• Environmental Quality (Control of Pollution From Solid Waste Transfer
Station And Landfill) Regulations 2009
• Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007

• Environmental Quality (Declared Activities) (Open Burning) Order

2003
In-class Example
• Calculate the area required for a new landfill site
with a projected life of 30 years for a population of
300,000 generating 2.5 kg/capita/day. The density
of the compacted waste is 500 kg/m3. The height of
the landfill cannot exceed 15 m.
Solution:
• Volume of landfill necessary:

(300000people)(2.5kg / capita/ day)

3
 1500m / day
3
500kg / m
• For 30 years:
V = (1500m3/day)(365 days/year)(30 years) =
16,425,000m3
Max heigh 15 m, therefore the area needed is:
16,425,000 m3/15 m = 1,095,000 m2 = 109.5 ha

This is equivalent to 205 FIFA standard football

fields!!!
Leachate
• A liquid that passes through the landfills, extracts dissolved
and suspended matter from the waste material.
• To prevent leachate seepage into groundwater, landfills must
be lined accordingly by using approved materials.
• Approved liners – geomembrane PVC, HDPE,CPE,EPDM
• Soil layer (clay) under geomembrane acts as a foundation
for the geomembrane and as a backup for a control of
leachate flow to the groundwater.
Leachate Collection
• Designed by sloping the floor of the landfill to a grid of underdrain
pipes that are placed above the geomembrane
Leachate Treatment
• Flexible, with multistage units that can treat
leachate from young and old landfills, which have
very different characteristics
• Reduction of BOD and COD
• Removal of halogenated hydrocarbons, metals,
ammonia
• Removal of salts, especially in leachate from old
landfills
Landfill Closure
• Major function
• Prevent moisture from entering the finished landfill

• Consists of
• Surface layer
• To provide suitable soil for plants to grow
• Biotic barrier
• to prevent roots of plants from penetrating the hydraulic barrier
• Drainage layer
• Serves as a leachate collection system, channelling leachate to a
grid of perforated pipes
• Consists of
• Hydraulic barrier
• To prevent the movement of water from the landfill
• Foundation layer
• To support the landfill and protect the geomembrane
liner from the rough aggregate used in the gas control
layer
• Gas control
• Serves as a gas collection system, channelling gases to a
grid of perforated pipes and to the surface of the landfill
• Post-closure
• Require maintenance
• Because of uneven settling
• Maintaining good drainage
• Uses
• Recreational purposes (parks, playgrounds, golf courses)
• Parking lots and storage areas
• Avoid
• Construction on buildings because of uneven settling and
gas evolution.
QUIZ
List all the elements of integrated approach (in hierarchical order) for
solid waste management.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.