CHAPTER 5:SOLID WASTE &HAZARDOUS WASTE

       

   Assalamualaikum semua, hari ini chapter 5 okay


      Solid waste defined as a Solid or semisolid, non-soluble material (including gases and liquids in containers) such as agricultural refuse, demolition waste, industrial waste, mining residues, municipal garbage, and sewage sludge.

    There are 3 types of solid waste which is

1. Household waste is generally classified as Municipal Waste
2. Industrial waste as Hazardous waste
3. Biomedical waste or Hospital Waste as Infectious Waste

Household solid waste consists of

1.  Household waste
2. Construction and demlition debris
3. Sanitation residue
4. Waste from streets

With rising urbanization and change in lifestyle and food habits, the amount of municipal solid waste has been increasing rapidly and its composition changing. The existing landfills are neither well equipped or well managed and are not lined properly to protect against contamination of soil and groundwater

  Hazardous Waste Industrial and hospital waste is considered hazardous as they may contain toxic substances. Hazardous wastes could be highly toxic to humans, animals, and plants. They are corrosive.highly inflammable, or explosive,react when exposed to certain things e.g. gases. Household wastes that can be categorized as hazardous waste.

    Hospital waste contaminated by chemicals used in hospitals is considered hazardous.

These chemicals include formaldehyde and phenols, which are used as disinfectants.

    In the industrial sector, the major generators of hazardous waste are the metal, chemical, paper, pesticide, dye, refining, and rubber goods industries.Direct exposure to chemicals in hazardous waste such as mercury and cyanide can be fatal.

Issues and Problems in Malaysia is 

Amount & component of solid waste generated Generation of waste; person per day; in Malaysia may decrease or increase based on the economic status of a particular area. Normally, generation of waste for one person per day is estimated to be 1kg/day; however; the rate has increased to 1.1 – 2.0 kg/day/person (source MHLG).In 2002, solid waste generated in Peninsular Malaysia was 17,000 tonnes per day and in 2005, 19,100 tonnes per day of waste was generated in Malaysia. Furthermore, generation of solid waste is expected to reach about 30,000 tonnes per day in the year 2020 , which is approximately equivalent to 10.95 millions tonnes per year. From increasing amounts of waste, we have been facing problems related to the types of solid waste produced. The ninth Malaysia Plan estimated that 49.3% of waste consists of food waste (organic waste), followed by 17.1% paper, plastic and iron with 9.7% and 1.6% respectively and 22.3% of other waste. DISPOSAL SITE the majority of our waste is currently being dumped in landfills. This is not really the best option because land is very precious and it is difficult to find a suitable place to locate a landfill. Furthermore, it does not support a culture of waste minimization among Malaysians.There are 231 landfills all over Malaysia and out of this, 111 landfills are not operating (source MHLG in Public Participation on Solid Waste Management (Commercial Premises), Seminar on Pilot Project LA21 KL: Clean and Beautiful City, 3rd March 2009). Inadequate or insufficient regulation, guideline and planning as well as enforcement to controlLack of strategies, directions and proper planning may be the cause of the problems such as the existence of short term contractual agreements and absence of support for recycling mechanisms at the community level (Bernama, 2008). Under these circumstances, local governments currently spend approximately 40% to 70% of our access  tax for rubbish collection and disposal.In the Seventh Malaysian Plan (1995 - 2000), the Federal government had spent RM 20.9 million just to  build 9 sanitary landfills and upgrade 27 existing landfills in 34 local authorities (Consumers’ Associate of Penang). The impact of solid waste Solid waste impacts on climate change (Greenhouse Gas) Many people do not realize that solid waste is a part of the loop that contributes to climate change. Climate change is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). Some of these emissions have a direct link to solid waste. The manufacturing, distribution and use of products as well as waste generation result in GHG emissions and affect the Earth’s climate.The Earth’s atmosphere contains many types of gases which includes GHG. GHGs absorb and retain heat from the sun. They regulate the Earth’s climate by holding heat in an atmospheric blanket around the planet's surface. Solid waste affects climate change through landfill methane emission. The main source of manmade methane gas is from landfills. Emission of methane gas happens when organic waste is left to decay anaerobically in landfills which produces methane gas.

     

Source:http://www.smartranger.net/index.cfm?&menuid=31&parentid=25

Solid Waste impacts on Water Quality

.               Solid waste impacts water quality through the release of leachate from landfills into water sources. As water comes in contact with decomposing solid waste,it will dissolve together with soluble inorganic and organic waste producing polluted liquid  known leachate or waste juice.

It has a high polluting potential impact due to its high concentrations of organic contaminants and high ammonical nitrogen. Once leachate is discharged into water bodies or/and aquatic environment, it will have an acute and chronic impact. If toxic metals are present, this can lead to chronic toxin accumulation in organisms that depend on it and may consequently affect humans if we feed on these organisms . Solid waste impacts on human health Perhaps the most important factor why we need solid waste to be managed wisely is the impact it can cause to human health. Generating waste as much as possible without practising waste prevention and minimization culture will only allows more landfills and incinerator to be build. Potential health effects such as birth defects, asthmas, respiratory disease, cancer and birth disease are to happen if we fail take an action to prevent and minimise waste at the source. Managing Solid Waste  Reduce, reuse and recycle, the three R’s for waste management, are effective measures that serve as alternatives to disposing waste in landfills. Today, we have several options available for handling the solid waste that we produce. Source :http://4.imimg.com/data4/LK/SJ/MY-11340434/end-to-end-solid-waste-management-services-250x250.jpg

* all notes are from my group presentation and http://www.smartranger.net/index.cfm?&menuid=18&parentid=61*