HOW TO DISPOSE SOLID WASTE?

Methods chosen are:

1. 1.      Landfill
2. 2.      Incineration
3. 3.      Recycling (Waste reduction)
4. 4.      Composting

 

POSSIBLE CONSTRAINTS OF DISPOSAL METHODS

There are many factors that able to constraint the disposal methods. A disposal method system is easily disturbed when certain criteria is not meet up or not obliged to it.

 

Normally, a landfill will require a big space of land reclamation before it can be use as the ultimate dumping site. A small area of land will inhibit the total waste compaction in the landfill. As a result, a longer time is needed for the microorganisms in the landfill to settle-down the waste. The different types of garbage thrown into the landfill will also affect the overall performance of bacteria decomposition. However, it is typically related to the microorganisms? rate of decomposition in the soils. The nature of soils with improper salinity and acidity will directly affect the stability of landfill. It is common for landfills to produce natural gasses such as methane and carbon dioxide. With the improper management of landfill, it would easily lead to an open fire. Moreover, landfills often face problem with contaminated groundwater when there is any leaching of leachates which causes an unpleasant odour. Eventually, the leaching of leachates will subsequently affect the drinking water system that lies below the aquifer streams. 

 

There are many constraints in the burning of waste via incineration method. The major constraint of using incineration method is about the cost production of establishing an incinerator. An incinerator can cost few millions up to billions of ringgit for just one machine set up excluding the labour cost and maintenance fees. To build an incinerator plant also required a big space of land reclamation. Even so, there are always lack of big investors and expertises in operating the incinerator. For certain cases, many countries do not have the latest technology on how to operate an incinerator in fact most of them are still not confidence in dealing complicated machines in their countries. Furthermore, the quality of combustion and quality of garbage is also very much dependent to the end-products of incineration. The nature of garbage varies from one place to another has given a great impact of using incinerator to burn waste. Source of wastes without proper segregation will affect the results waste combustion in the incinerator. For example, a country that has high moisture level in their waste would certainly affect the rate of combustion in the incinerator and eventually causing a longer period time required for burning.

 

Proper education on how to do recycling is necessary in order to promote recycling and waste reduction in the country. Acquiring knowledge is not sufficient if there are no suitable facilities provided by the local authorities. The local authorities and others supporting parties should have the initiatives in creating and promoting awareness campaign events that are related to recycling. The lack of public interests and unwillingness of people to recycle are another big challenge that needs to be solved. Moreover, public stigma of recycling in the country is still low as making recycling at home is something so uncommon to be done. In order to reduce waste generation, recycling will be the pioneer step to make it a success. Hence, the enforcement of strict policies and legal acts are very crucial in ensuring the people to practise recycling in their daily life.

 

Composting process could be hinder if there is an inadequate attention on the biological process requirements. Normally, an over-emphasis placing on mechanised processes rather than labour intensive operations occurred in a composting plant. In fact, there is always lack of vision and marketing plans for the final compost product. In addition, inadequate of pathogen and weed seed-suppression also commonly happen in a composting plant. This will eventually slow down the biological reaction of decomposition of microorganisms. There is also a risk of nuisance potential, such as odours and pest problems (rats) scattering around the composting plant. Besides that, composting often link to poor marketing experiences where there is always weak integration of governing body with the agricultural community. Even though composting often requires a minimal area of land, it can still be a constraint if there is no proper planning of integrated composting management.

 

In an overview, there are many factors affecting waste disposal methods or better to be known as waste management in various developing countries. These include the shortage of adequate funds for waste treatment and disposal is often related to low priority given as compared to other more pressing factors of development in a country.

 

Nevertheless, manpower problem is also another challenging factor especially in fast developing nations like Malaysia. Imported labours in waste management brings with other associated problems like increased cost, diseases and other social disorder such as crime. Lack of disposal sites are among the top list problems of waste management in the country as a large land area is needed for a good waste disposal mechanism system. The absence of a good institutional set up also delays the waste management process due to unnecessary bureaucratic methods. After all, the lack of expertise in waste management also hinders the local authorities to improve on their methodology to treat waste in the country.

Waste NOT, Want NOT.