a study of community based solid waste production and
TRANSCRIPT
A STUDY OF COMMUNITY BASED SOLID WASTE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT AT KAMPUNG BAKO,
KUCHING, SARAWAK
Rahmah Binti Biak
Master of Environmental Science (Land Use and Water Resource Management)
2008
Pusat Khidmat Mak: umat Akademik UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
P. KhIIDMAT MAKLUMAT AKADEMIK
1000246513
A STUDY OF COMMUNITY-BASED SOLID WASTE PRODUCTION AND
MANAGEMENT AT KAMPUNG BAKO, KUCHING, SARAWAK
RAHMAH BINTI BIAK
A dissertation submitted
... '
in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Environmental Science
(Land Use and Water Resource Management)
Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FSTS)
UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA SARAWAK
2008
Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF APPENDICES
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ABSTRACT
ABSTRAK
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.3 JUSTIFICATIONS OF THE STUDY
1.4 LITERATURE REVIEWS
., F
Page
i
V
V1
ix
X
xi
xii
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1
1
3
4
5
1.4.1 Municipal Solid Waste Management 5
1.4.2 Community-based Solid Waste Management 8
1.4.3 Legislation and Institutional Policy of Solid Waste 9 Management In Sarawak
1.4.4 Documentation of Participation of Kpg Bako Communities in Solid 11 Waste Management
1.5 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 16
1.5.1 General Objective 16
1.5.2 Specific Objectives 16
1.6 SCOPE OF FIELD STUDY 17
1
CHAPTER 2: STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
2.1 DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA
2.2 DOCUMENTATION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
2.3 SURVEY ON AMOUNT AND COMPOSITION OF MSW
2.4 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT SURVEY
2.5 DIRECT OBSERVATION
CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 STUDY AREA
3.2 DOCUMENTATION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
3.3 SURVEY ON AMOUNT AND COMPOSITION OF MSW
3.3.1 Bajong Zone
3.3.2 Pedada Zone
3.3.3 Disa Zone
3.3.4 Gogam Zone
3.3.5 Banjar Zone
3.3.6 Masjid Zone
3.3.7 Karangan Zone
3.3.8 Jangkar Zone
3.3.9 Api-api Zone
3.3.10 Amount and Composition of MSW in Kpg Bako
3.3.10.1 Organic waste
3.3.10.2 Plastic
3.3.10.3 Miscellaneous wastes
.F
18
18
25
25
28
30
31
31
31
37
38
39
40
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
49
51
52
11
3.3.10.4 Glass
3.3.10.5 Paper
3.3.10.6 Metal
3.3.11 General Observations
3.4 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT AND RELATED ISSUES
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
3.4.5
3.4.6
Demographic Profile
Perception Towards Environment
Awareness on Waste Collection Service, Recycle Composting
Attitude Towards Solid Waste Management
3.4.4.1 Waste disposal
3.4.4.2 Recycling
3.4.4.3 Composting
Source of Information on Waste Management
Participation in Waste Management Issue
.f
3.4.7 Issues Related to Waste Management 76
3.4.8 Methods and Actions Taken in Response to Waste Management 82 Issue
3.4.9 Community Perceptions to Community-Based Initiative 84
3.4.9.1 Village Image and Proper Waste Management
3.4.9.7 Acceptance of Monetary Reward
3.4.9.2 Satisfaction of Waste Bins and Collection Frequency 84
62
62
64
72
73
75
84
86
87
3.4.9.5 Information and Government Initiative on Composting 88
3.4.9.6 Acceptance of Increment in House Rate Assessment 88
3.4.9.3 Acceptance of Cleaning Campaign
3.4.9.4 Satisfactory on Price of Recyclable Materials
52
52
53
53
56
56
60
and 61
88
iii
3.4.9.8 Effectiveness of environmental talk and exhibition 89
3.4.10 Waste Bins Facility Issues 90
CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 93
4.1 CONCLUSION 93
4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 96
BIBLIOGRAPHY 100
Appendix A 106
Appendix B 108
Appendix C 120
Appendix D 139
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study would not have been possible without the great support and cooperation of many
individuals and organizations. Foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my
study supervisor, Professor Dr. Kopli Bujang whose guidance, feedback and advice has
made this research possible. An appreciations to Associate Professor Dr. Spencer Empading
Sanggin who gave valuable comments and suggestions on the Questionnaires.
I wish to accord my appreciations to the management of NREB for the support in my study
leave and assistance in this project, the staff of DBKU (Environmental Health Division)
who have unselfishly provide information, the management of YBSTAR for providing
scholarship, both Ketua Kampung of Kampung Bako Hulu and Hilir and their committee
members for full support, hospitality and valuable information. I am indeed in'ebted to the
villagers who agreed to be interviewed and participated in the survey.
I am grateful to many friends and colleagues who always rendered their help and
cooperation whenever needed: Durie A., Noor Azima MD,. Tsai KF, M. Arnie, Jong CF,
officers and staff of EEAP & AFHR Sections of the NREB. To Dr. Siti Rubiah Zainudin, all
SLUSE-M 7th Cohort lecturers, resource persons, coordinator and my coursemates,
sincerely thanks for encouragement, invaluable knowledge and experiences. Finally,
heartiest thanks to my parents, family members and cousins, Mdm Mordiah Hj M. Ali &
family and Hjh Neng Fazila Ro'ya for their immense love and support. To them I dedicated
this thesis.
RB@May'08
V
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1.1 Wastes dumped indiscriminately under the house (Photo courtesy by 12 NREB-JICA SV; taken on 6 Aug. 2003)
Figure 1.2 Gotong-royong on 19 June 2004 (Photo courtesy by NREB-JICA SV) 13
Figure 1.3 Buy-back recycleables program on 19 June 2004 (Photo courtesy by 14 NREB-JICA SV)
Figure 1.4 Launching of SK Bako Kelab PALS and waste minimization program 15 on 10 March 2005 (Photo courtesy by NREB-JICA SV)
Figure 2.1 View of Kampung Bako during low tide as seen from mainland 18
Figure 2.2 Locality map of the study area 19
Figure 2.3 The Bako National Park Terminal located across the river of Kpg Bako 19
Figure 2.4 Concrete pathway 20
Figure 2.5 Timber footpath connected the houses 21
Figure 2.6 Sg. Bako as means of transportation for students, and livelihood for 21
perahu tambang operator
Figure 2.7 One of traditional fishing methods use at Kpg Bako 22
Figure 2.8 Mangrove vegetation covered some parts of Kpg Bako 22
Figure 2.9 Kpg Bako mosque on the top of a hill 24
Figure 2.10 Individual septic tank used by Kpg Bako residents 24
Figure 2.11 Briefing to participating houses on waste composition study 26
Figure 2.12 The survey team used 240L, rubbish bin to carry segregated waste from 27 participating houses
Figure 2.13 Weighting and recording of segregated waste 27
Figure 2.14 Another type of weight device for weighting the segregated waste 28
Figure 2.15 Briefing to selected households on the questionnaires 29
Figure 2.16 The Participants answering the questionnaires in the form provided 30
Figure 3.1 Flow of waste from Kpg Bako to Trienekens' waste storage 33
vi
Figure 3.2 Zones of Kpg Bako and location of Waste Bin Centre 35
Figure 3.3 Waste-bin Centre at Gogam Zone, provided with signage, belian 36 platform and 7 units of 240L waste bins
Figure 3.4 Signage at Masjid Zone's Waste-bin Centre 36
Figure 3.5 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 38 Bajong Zone
Figure 3.6 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 39 Pedada Zone
Figure 3.7 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in Disa 40 Zone
Figure 3.8 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 41 Gogam Zone
Figure 3.9 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 42 Banjar Zone
Figure 3.10 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 43 Masjid Zone
Figure 3.11 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 44 Karangan Zone
Figure 3.12 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 45 Jangkar Zone
Figure 3.13 Amount of different type of MSW generated per household in 46 Api-api Zone
Figure 3.14 Amount of daily MSW generated by different zone 48
Figure 3.15 MSW composition of Kampung Bako 49
Figure 3.16 Some degrees of food wastes are utilized as chicken feed in Bajong 50 Zone
Figure 3.17 Organic wastes from one of participating households 50
Figure 3.18 Plastic used as packaging materials for many of consumers products 51
Figure 3.19 Disposable diapers give a significant amount of waste generated in 52 Kpg Bako
vii
Figure 3.20 Sundry shops, which is extension of the villager's home, closed to 55 each other in Kpg Bako
Figure 3.21 A type of metals that still widely generated by the villagers 56
Figure 3.22 Respondent perception towards environment 61
Figure 3.23 Respondent awareness on waste collection service, recycling and 62
composting, and respondent practice pre-sorting and recycling
Figure 3.24 Respondent attitude towards waste disposal, recycling and 63
composting
Figure 3.25 Ways of respondents to dispose household waste 64
Figure 3.26 Unproper waste disposal 65
Figure 3.27 Burned heap as seen in the village 65
Figure 3.28 Percentage of respondents' practice pre-sorting according to different 67 types of material
Figure 3.29 Preference of recyclable materials for reuse and recycling 70
Figure 3.30 Reason of respondent for participating in recycling 71
Figure 3.31 Respondent barriers from participating in recycling 72
Figure 3.32 Source of information on waste management among respondent 74
Figure 3.33 An eye-sore, waste floating during high tide in the village 78
Figure 3.34 Three units MGB with a capacity 1000 litre each 79
Figure 3.35 Many waste-bins had already broken wheel 79
Figure 3.36 The rough pathway condition at Trienekens' waste storage 80
Figure 3.37 Effectiveness of environmental talk and exhibition as perceived by 89
respondent
VIII
LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 3.1 Division of zone and number of houses in each zone 34
Table 3.2 Amount of different type of MSW generated daily at Kampung Bako 47
Table 3.3 Comparison of MSW generation from various studies in Kuching 54 areas
Table 3.4 General demographic profiles of respondents 57
Table 3.5 Constraints that hinder the initiative to do source separation of waste 66
Table 3.6 Quantity of weekly recovered material from source separation 68
Table 3.7 Possible compostable materials 73
Table 3.8 Respondents participation in waste management issue 75
Table 3.9 Common issues related to waste management addressed by 77
respondents
Table 3.10 Methods and action taken by respondents in response to waste 83
management issue
Table 3.11 Respondent perceptions of community-based waste management 85
Table 3.12 Current and suggested price for recyclable materials 88
Table 3.13 Expected quantity of waste bins at each zone 91
Table 3.14 Expected quantity of waste bins for second collection at each zone 92
ix
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A Leaflet on Waste Segregation
Appendix B Data Collection Forms
Form 1 : Analysis of MSW
Form 2: Interview and Questionnaires
Appendix C Raw Data and Analysis Result of MSW Field Survey
Appendix D Raw Data and Analysis Result of Questionnaires
.ý
Pa e
106
108
109
110
120
139
X
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
% Percentage
3R Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Al Aluminium
BOD Biological oxygen demand
DO Dissolved oxygen DOE Department of Environment
ISWM Integrated solid waste management JICA SV Japan International Cooperation Agency Senior Volunteer
JKKK Jawatankuasa Keselamatan dan Kemajuan Kampung (Village Security and Development Committee)
KNCH Kuching North City Hall
Kpg Kampung (Village)
KWB Kuching Water Board
LA Local Authority
LAO Local Authority Ordinance
MGB Mobile Garbage Bin
MSW Municipal Solid Waste
No. Number
NREB Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak
NREO Natural Resources and Environment (Amendment) Ordinance, 1993
ONP Old newspaper PALS Pencinta Alam Sekitar (Environmental Lovers)
PET Poly Ethylene Tetrachloride
Sg. Sungai (river)
SESCO Sarawak Electric Supply Cooperation
SK Sekolah Kebangsaan (Primary School)
SRB Sarawak Rivers Board
SUD Sustainable Urban Development
SWM Solid waste management
X1
ABSTRACT
The complexity of issues associated with solid waste makes solid waste management a
challenging task. The study of community-based solid waste production and management
at Kampung Bako provides an overview of current production of solid waste and its
characteristic, involvement of the community in relations to management of solid waste,
their social attitude and participation in sponsor related programs The result shows that
the community generates an average of 3.52 kg of MSW per day per household. Considering
the average household size is 6.84, the rate MSW generation per person is 0.51 kg per day.
Based on this rate, the total population in Kampung Bako generated MSW nearly 1.51
tonnes/day or 45 tonnes/month. By weight, the major portion of MSW generated is organic
wastes, which is potentially valuable as a composting substrate. The study haft shown that
not all recyclable materials in waste stream were recovered. The distribution of MSW
composition under the six categories are organic wastes 45.5%, followed by plastics (23.3%),
miscellaneous wastes (11.9%), glasses (8.5%), paper (7.1%) and metal (3.7%).
The study indicated that a high number of respondents (88.3%) has the right perception
towards environment as well as high awareness level on recycling (98.6%) and composting
(82.1%), with positive attitude towards waste disposal (80%) and recycling (91%).
Approximately 80% of the communities practiced recycling as casual recycler and they
understood the purpose of practicing recycling as the mean to conserve the environment.
However, their knowledge on how recycling contributed to the environmental conservation
is still low. The major constraints to initiate recycling to the 20% nonrecycler are waste
storage and recycling facilities.
xii
The study provides an example of involvement by the communities, paralleling to the
involvement of government in solid waste management. The results depicted that where
people do not perceived the relationship between waste management and collection with
subsequent community appearance and village image, they are less willing to participate in
the system. There still appears to be a lacking of government assistance in term of waste
facilities and maintenance, education and effective promotion programs, and government
policies, which draw the obligations of larger communities in Kampung Bako to ensure a
healthy environment of their village. The community indicates their readiness to upkeep
the government initiatives, but inadequate waste bins and few other issues influence their
behavior which contrasts to the rules of effective solid waste management. It is
recommended that the ISWM concept, which is based on waste hierarchy of Reduction,
Reuse and Recovery to be fully implemented and supported in Kampung BAM, Kuching,
Sarawak.
xu1
ABSTRAK
Isu berkaitan bahan sisa pepejal (BSP) amat kompleks menyebabkan pengurusannya
merupakan tugas yang mencabar. Kajian tentang penjanaan dan pengurusan BSP
berasaskan komuniti di Kampung Bako memberi gambaran penjanaan sisa pepejal dan
ciri-cirinya, pembabitan komuniti berkaitan dengan pengurusan sisa pepejal, sikap dan
penyertaan mereka dalam program-program yang disediakan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan
setiap keluarga menjana secara purata 3.52 kg BSP sehari. Berdasarkan purata saiz
keluarga 6.84, maka kadar penjanaan BSP bagi setiap individu ialah 0.51 kg sehari.
Berasaskan kadar ini, jumlah penjanaan keseluruhan BSP di Kpg Bako hampir 1.51 tan
sehari atau 45 tan sebulan. Mengikut berat, bahagian terbesar BSP yang dijanakan terdiri
daripada sisa organik, yang mana berpotensi sebagai bahan pengkomposan. Kajian
menunjukkan tidak semua bahan yang boleh dikitar semula diperoleh kembah*'dari aliran
sampah di Kampung Bako. Pembahagian komposisi BSP mengikut enam kategori adalah
sampah organik 45.5%, diikuti oleh plastik (23.3%), sampah pelbagai (11.9%), kaca (8.5%),
kertas (7.1 %) dan bahan berasaskan besi (3.701o).
Kajian menunjukkan sejumlah besar responden (88.3%) mempunyai persepsi yang tepat
terhadap alam sekitar serta juga mempunyai tahap kesedaran yang tinggi tentang kitar
semula (98.6%) dan pengkoniposan (82.1%), ditambah dengan sikap positif terhadap
pembuangan sampah (80%) dan kitar semula (91%). Hampir 80% komuniti mengamalkan
kitar semula secara sambilan dan mereka faham tujuan menga. malkannya adalah untuk
memulihara alam sekitar. Walau ba, gaimanapun, pengetahuan mereka tentang bagaimana
kitar semula ntenyumbang kearah pemuliharaan alam sekitar masih lagi di tahap yang
rendah. Halangan terbesar bagi meniulakan kitar semula bagi 20% bukan pengamal kitar
semula adalah tempat simpanan dan kemudahan kitar semula.
xiv
Kajian memberi contoh tentang penglibatan komuniti, sejajar dengan penglibatan pihak
kerajaan dalam pengurusan BSP. Kajian mendapati seseorang tidak akan rela untuk
menyertai di dalam sistem pengurusan sekiranya tidak melihat terdapatnya hubungan
antara pengurusan dan pengumpulan sampah dengan rupa komuniti dan imej kampung
mereka. Masih terdapat kekurangan bantuan daripada kerajaan da. ri segi kemudahan BSP
dan penyelenggaraan, pendidikan dan program promosi yang efektif, serta polisi kerajaan,
yang mana menyebabkan sebahagian besar komuniti menarik diri dari kewajipan bagi
memastikan persekitaran yang sihat di kampung mereka. Para penduduk menunjukka. n
kesediaan untuk melibatkan diri dalam inisiatif kerajaan, tetapi kekurangan tong sampah
dan beberapa isu mempengaruhi tindakan mereka yang bertentangan dengan peraturan
pengurusan BSP yang efektif. Adalah dicadangkan bahawa konsep ISWM (Pengurusan
BSP Bersepadu), yang berdasarkan hirarki sampah, iaitu Pengurangan, Guna Bemula dan
Peroleh Kernbali dilaksanakan sepenuhnya dan disokong di Kampung Bako, Kuching,
Sarawak.
xv
CHAPTER1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The increasing quantity of solid waste is a growing concern since this will eventually leads
to environmental and public health problems in Malaysia. Negative environmental impacts
due to improper solid waste management are pollution of air, soil and water, and
generation of greenhouse gases from landfills. In terms of health and safety, the problems
are associated with the disease vectors such as mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and rodents
which thrive on solid waste (Pinnock, 1998), and disease associated with waste that may
contain large numbers of micro-organisms (Fedorak and Rogers, 1991). Solid waste
management is also a growing financial problem in Sarawak (Lim, 2001).
In Sarawak, the fast expansion of urban, agricultural and industrial activities spurred by
rapid population growth has produced vast amount of solid and liquid wastes that pollute
the environment and destroy natural resources. Moreover, recent levels of economic growth
and the subsequent introduction of mass consumption lifestyles from developed countries
are aggravating these problems. Waste generation is inevitably correlated with increased
consumption and growing urban populations. During the last decade, the population
development of Kuching District have been very dynamic with the average annual growth
rate of 3.24% (1991 until 2000), making Kuching the most densely populated district in
Sarawak with an estimated population of 579,900 (DOS, 2006).
1
The total quantity of waste generated by the residential sector in Kuching district in 2001
is estimated at 96,900 tonnes, and an approximately 8% or 6,800 tonnes of these waste is
not collected (SUD, 2003). This implies that private or public waste management and
collections contractors are inadequate or underdeveloped, and it is suspected the
uncollected waste was disposed illegally, dumped or burned openly. The estimated waste
generation per capita for Kuching was 0.85 kg/cap/year (Tang et al., 2003).
Solid waste management is a major responsibility of local governments, typically
consuming between 20 to 50% of municipal budgets in developing countries (van Beukering
et al., 1999). It is one of the most expensive municipal services, and many authorities are
unable to cope with the rapidly expanding demands made on the formal waste management
system (Ali & Snel, 1999).
Waste management services for an area in Kuching North is under the jurisdiction of
Kuching North City Hall (KNCH), which until now has been contracted to Trienekens Sdn.
Bhd. Due to certain limitations, especially in villages (kampungs) which have narrow roads
or which are separate from the mainland, not all of these areas under KNCH has door to
door waste collection. Many villages and settlements along the rivers have traditionally
resorted to disposing rubbish under their house or directly into the rivers. In this situation,
some proactive and innovative approaches have to be developed by the local authorities
and/or communities in tackling solid waste management in these particular areas.
2
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Kpg Bako is a traditional fishing village situated about 37 kilometres from Kuching city
centre. It is located in front of the main transit point for local and international tourists
going to the Bako National Park, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in
Sarawak. The current total population is 2964 people living in 430 houses. The village
resides on the bank of Sg Bako, and as such most of the houses were built on stilts with
several jetties erected to accommodate boat landings. This is the only mean of
transportation for ferrying passengers and goods across the river. The houses are
connected to a 1.5 metres wide concrete and timber footpath, which is the common walkway
for the villagers to get to the jetties.
Being separated from the mainland, it is not viable for the KNCH to provide proper solid
waste collection service to each house as in the city. This service is modified to improve the
sanitation level of the village in the form of collection centres. Waste-bin centres are
strategically placed in location where the villagers can deposite their waste before the twice
weekly collection by the selected contractors. This method of waste collection relies very
much upon the self-discipline and civic-mindedness of these villagers, so that waste are not
dumped indiscriminately into the surrounding areas.
Traditionally, the river is like a dumping ground for many villages and settlements within
its vicinity. Disposing rubbish under the house, on the roadsides or directly into the river
was a norm for the villagers in these areas. Hence, during low tide, the village appears to
be built directly on a dumping ground. Although many villagers knew the importance of
3
sanitation, but to them, throwing waste into the river seems to be the most convenient way.
They were hoped the waste will be washed away by the current. This has been the practice
of the villagers for so many years.
The general condition of the village is very dirty. This situation needs to be rectified to
ensure a clean and sanitary environment for Kpg Bako with the cooperation and support
from the relevant authorities, particularly the KNCH and Natural Resources and
Environment Board (NREB) of Sarawak.
1.3 JUSTIFICATIONS OF THE STUDY
i. There are limited studies documenting community-based solid waste
management systems in Malaysia. Furthermore, these studies are locations
specific and thus may not provide a definite picture for KNCH. The study in
the KNCH area by Bujang et al. (1996) only concerned on waste productions
and public attitude on recycling, without direct participation aspects of local
villagers. This study will therefore add new and relevant knowledge to the
available collection of literature on the subject matter.
ii. An assessment on the participation of solid waste management approach by
the communities with support from government agencies can help to increase
general understanding of solid waste management in developing countries.
Although the case study of the program reflects the program's specific history,
context and condition, the sharing of experiences and lesson learnt may be
4
Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik UMVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
useful to others to increase their understanding of solid waste management in
developing countries, and inspire the development of ideas and action.
iii. Furthermore, it fits well with the current global trends of community-based
approaches to environmental problems. Such community-based systems are
critical for environmental management programs in developing countries
because these countries are rich in communal resources although they are
often poor financially.
1.4 LITERATURE REVIEWS
1.4.1 Municipal Solid Waste Management
Waste problems differ depending on the country, city or community. Waste is a by-product .W
of human activity. Diaz et al. (1993) refers waste as a resource discarded by its possessor or
user (dweller, commerce, industry, government) because apparently it is of no further use to
the possessor. Solid waste is a solid material possessing a negative economic value, which
suggests that it is cheaper to discard than to use (Pichtel, 2005).
Municipal solid waste (MSW), also known as domestic waste or household waste, is
generated within a community from several sources, and not simply by the individual
consumer or a household. It originates from residential, commercial, institutional,
industrial, and municipal sources (Pichtel, 2005). MSW are highly heterogeneous and often
divided into two categories: garbage and rubbish. Garbage is composed of plant and animal
waste generated as a result of preparing and consuming food. This material is putrescible,
which quickly decompose through microbial reactions to produce bad odors and harmful
5
gases. Rubbish is the component of MSW excluding food waste, and is nonputrescible.
Some, but not all, of rubbish is combustible (Pichtel, 2005).
The survey in 2001 on waste composition analysis of residential sectors in Kuching showed
that approximately 50% are organic waste (food and garden waste), followed by plastic
(20%), paper (14%) and other combustible waste (9%). The other small fractions are glass
and scrap metal (Tang et al., 2003). This reflects that high percentage of organic waste in
waste stream of Kuching residential area.
In developing countries, the issue of waste management has emerged as a critical and
impending disaster due to the process of urbanization and population concentration. These
are inextricably linked to waste management issues, which is progressing at a pace that is
much faster than was ever experienced by today's industrialized countries (JICA, 2005).
Solid waste management is concerned with the control of generation, storage, collection,
transfer and transport, processing and recovery, and ultimate disposal of solid wastes
(Pichtel, 2005) in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health,
economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics and other environmental considerations,
which is also responsive to public attitudes. The problems associated with the management
of MSW in today's society are complex because of the quantity and diverse nature of the
wastes (Tchnobanoglous et al., 1993), lack of effective legislation, inadequate funds and
services, and inability of municipal authorities in developing countries to provide the
services cost-effectively (UNEP, 2005).
6
The concept of integrated solid waste management (ISWM) emerged as the environmental
awareness are increasing over time due to various reasons, such as advancements in
environmental science and technology, and interests in pollution-related health problems.
The ISWM refers to the complementary use of a variety of practices to safely and effectively
handle MSW. The strategy used to develop an ISWM is to identify the level or levels at
which the highest values of individual and collective materials to be recovered (Palozynski,
2002) or to be adopted in the waste hierarchy. "Reduction" is placed at the pinnacle of the
hierarchy, and "Reuse" is the next order of priority. This suggests that using less to begin
with and reusing more, thereby saving material production, resource cost, and energy. The
next priority is "Recovery" as valuable materials can often be recovered from waste, and
this level of hierarchy calls for the introduction of intermediate treatment facilities, which ! V°
includes recycling, composting and incineration. The least desirable option is disposal, but
even this must be performed on a sanitary landfill.
Malaysia has launched the Recycling Campaign in 2000 and came up with the National
Strategic Plan for Solid Waste Management in 2005. Under this plan, the Government
intends to achieve a recycling rate of 22% by the year of 2020. Three main strategies
outlined in the Master Plan and the Action Plan are (1) enhancement of awareness on
waste minimization; (2) strengthening of partnership for 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
activities; and (3) the enhancement of institution to strengthen Government policies on
waste minimization (Ong, 2006).
7