Waste Not, Want Notby | 24-05-2014 09:46 |
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The useless and unwanted product in the form of solid state that derived from the activities of and discarded by society is known as solid waste. It is produced either by-product of production processes or arise from the domestic or commercial sector when objects or material are discarded after use. Solid wastes also usually define as the following terms: garbage rubbish refuse and litter. Each activity will generate different types of waste which need its own separate or specialized treatment. The type of waste that are commonly generates in Malaysia are municipal solid waste which included domestic, commercial, community, construction and institutional waste, hazardous waste as well as the industrial waste. Waste types that cannot be disposed of at domestic waste landfills are biomedical waste, radioactive waste, asbestos, lead acid and other batteries, used vehicles oil and toxic or scheduled waste. This is because these waste types require special treatment to neutralise their potentially hazardous contents, and therefore require special disposal techniques and facilities. Waste is generated continuously and might be harmful and contributes pollution to the environment. More effort and work still needed in the way to come along to fight for better and clean environment. According to the Clean Air Council, the average American generates trash is over 4 lbs a day. Most of the waste is in packaging disposable diapers, nearly 4 million tons of junk mail and 270 million tires. These are all the solid waste that we have to manage it in proper in other to keep environment clean. There are many option exist. There are many methods to dispose solid waste which are landfill, incineration, composting, recycling, in-sink garbage disposal, open and illegal dumping, and ocean dumping. Disposal methods vary depending upon the nature of the solid waste. At present, landfilling is widely used method for disposing of domestic and non-scheduled solid waste in Malaysia. Much of the paper can be recycled hence paper waste can be dispose through recycling. Recycling saves not only energy but money as well. It is norm to know about the 3R?s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) but in reality the mechanism of recycling is not easy to implement 3R?s concept in the country. It has been practised in many developed nations and it should be encouraged for at least recycling. A systematic recycling at source before sending waste to landfill would be advantageous over allowing scavengers to salvage from the dumpsite. Recycling can be easily made into practise if proper guidance is provided by the supporting parties to the public.
Waste incineration involves the application of combustion processes under controlled conditions to convert waste materials to inert mineral ash and gas. There are three important things that must be present along sufficient oxygen for the reaction to occur. The temperature, turbulence and residence time are the few factors that often discuss in incineration process. Temperature will rise to the level needed for good combustion as the combustion airflow is reduced to the minimum level needed to provide the oxygen for the support fuel (gas, oil or coal) and the combustibles without forming high levels of CO and unburned hydrocarbons. Turbulence refers to the constant mixing of fuel, waste, and oxygen. Residence time is the time of exposure to combustion temperatures.
The major benefit of incineration is that the process actually destroys most of the waste rather than just disposing of or storing it. It can be adapted for the destruction of a wide variety of wastes. This includes but is not limited to household wastes, it also often referred to as municipal wastes, industrial wastes, medical wastes, sewage, Superfund soils and liquids, and the hazardous wastes generated by industry. Unlike many other methods of waste disposal, incineration is a permanent solution. Composting organic materials that have been diverted from landfills ultimately avoids the production of methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. Compost has the ability to prevent pollutants in storm water runoff from reaching surface water resources. |