Environmental Evaluation of Sanitary Landfills Establishment: Malaysian Case Studies

Abstract:

Poor management of dump-sites creates significant risks to environment and human health. Thus, sanitary landfills are required to be more effective to minimize the impacts of waste disposal. This research assesses the environmental economic evaluation focused on the economically efficiency of Malaysian sanitary landfills. Two landfills were selected based on their different operation. Landfill A incurred RM 128 million (USD 41.8 million) as the total cost within 20 operational period. Thus, it is estimated that the cost may be covered within 15 operational years. On the other hand, the total costs for Landfill B are estimated at RM 198 million (USD 64.8 million) with RM 245 million (USD 80.2 million) are expected to be obtained as profit within eight operational years. Landfill B has high initial costs of design and construction. However, the costs are covered within the first five years. This is because Landfill B introduces a new green technology namely landfill-gas power generator. This indicates that, Landfill B has stronger market competition ability as compared to Landfill A. It can be concluded that the implementation of green technology namely landfill gas harvesting system has higher impact to improve the economic value of a landfill thus making it more economical and environmentally sustainable.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 599)
• Pages: 224-228
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.599.224
• Online since: November 2012
• Authors: Chen Zhang, Santha Santha, Fauziah Shahul Hamid
• Keywords: Economic Efficiency, Economic Evaluation, Landfill, Solid Waste Management

References

[1] S.H. Fauziah: Municipal solid waste management: A comprehensive study in Selangor. Malaysian Journal of Science (2010)

[2] Technical Guideline on Sanitary Landfill-Design and Operation. Technical Section of the Local Government Division, Kuala Lumpur. Ministry of Housing and Local Government (2000)

[3] A.V. Shekdar: Sustainable solid waste management: An integrated approach for Asian countries. Waste Management, 29 (4): 1438–1448 (2009)

DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2008.08.025

[4] A.V. Shekdar: Recycling of solid wastes in India. Workshop on Material Cycles and Waste Management in Asian Countries, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan (2002)

[5] K. Sunil, G. Vijay, S. A. Gaikwad, and M. Somnath: Cost-benefit analysis of landfill system with gas recovery for municipal solid waste management: a cast study, International Journal of Environmental Studies, Vol.61 (6): 637-650 (2004)

DOI: 10.1080/0020723042000271677

[6] R.K. Srivastava, R.P. Tiwari, R. P.Bala and M.K. Nema Landfill Cost Model for Disposal of MSW, in Workshop on Sustainable Landfill Management. Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Chennai, India, pp.247-254 (2003)

[7] T. Zamali, M. L., Abdullah and M. D. Osman.: An overview of municipal solid wastes generation in Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jurnal Teknologi, 51(F) Dis: 1–15(2009)

DOI: 10.11113/jt.v51.142

[8] K. Matsufuji: Caution for Application of "Fukuoka Method" (Semi-Aerobic Landfill Technology). Kyushu International Centre, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (2007)

[9] A.M. Troschinetz and J.R. Mihelcic: Sustainable recycling of municipal solid waste in developing countries, Waste Management, 29 (2): 915-923(2009)

DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2008.04.016

[10] P. Agamuthu and S.H. Fauziah: Challenges and issues in moving towards sustainable landfilling in a transitory country- Malaysia. Waste Management and Research. 29(1): 13-19 (2010)

DOI: 10.1177/0734242x10383080

[11] Developing integrated solid waste management plan training manual. United Nations Environment Programme. (2009)