STUDY ON SOLID WASTE GENERATION

AMONG THE RESIDENTIAL AREA IN ALOR

SETAR, KEDAH.

MASTURA AFNAN BINTI PUBIN

B. ENG (HONS.) CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PAHANG

SUPERVISOR’S DECLARATION

I hereby declare that I have checked this thesis and in my opinion, this thesis is adequate

in terms of scope and quality for the award of the Bachelor Degree of Civil Engineering

_______________________________

(Supervisor’s Signature)

Full Name : HASMANIE BINTI ABDUL HALIM

Position : LECTURER

Date : 25th JUNE 2018

STUDENT’S DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the work in this thesis is based on my original work except for

quotations and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has

not been previously or concurrently submitted for any other degree at University

Malaysia Pahang or any other institutions.

_______________________________

(Student’s Signature)

Full Name : MASTURA AFNAN BINTI PUBIN

ID Number : AA14231

Date : 25th JUNE 2018

STUDY ON SOLID WASTE GENERATION AMONG THE RESIDENTIAL

AREA IN ALOR SETAR, KEDAH.

MASTURA AFNAN BINTI PUBIN

Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements

for the award of the

Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Earth Resources

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PAHANG

JUNE 2018

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In the name of Allah S.W.T, the most beneficent and merciful who give I strength and knowledge

to complete this thesis. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and deep

regards for my parents and my family, which always gives me a support, encouragement,

financial support and invaluable assistance needed.

I would like to express my gratitude to Madam Hasmanie binti Abdul Halim, my lovely

supervisor who gives me this opportunity to fulfill this thesis and guidance during the progress

for this thesis. She always acts professionally, sacrifice her time and gave me valuable advice.

Not forgotten, my thanks and appreciations also goes to my colleague which are Nurul Amni Bt

Azizan, Nur Atiqah Bt Abdul Hamid, Che Fatin Fatiha Bt Che Man, and many more who

willingly to helped me out with their full abilities. Last but not least, it is my pleasure to be

indebted to various people, whom directly or indirectly contributed in my thesis and I am very

grateful to have met them as they have gave me accompany and a warm welcoming I needed to

settled in. Thank you.

iii

ABSTRAK

Sejak akhir-akhir ini, jumlah sisa pepejal yang dihasilkan semakin meningkat disebabkan

oleh perkembangan pembangunan yang pesat, peningkatan populasi dan peningkatan

aktiviti industri. Justeru itu, ia sedikit sebanyak telah membawa pelbagai masalah kepada

alam sekitar dan hal ini perlu diberikan perhatian khusus. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk

mengenal pasti pelbagai jenis sisa pepejal yang dihasilkan di kawasan perumahan sekitar

Alor Setar, Kedah dan untuk mengukur tahap kesedaran dan kefahaman terhadap amalan

kitar semula dalam kalangan isi rumah. Bagi mendapatkan jumlah penghasilan sisa

pepejal, ianya dikumpul dengan kaedah pengasingan dan timbangan berat sisa pepejal

dari 50 buah rumah yang telah dipilih. Sisa pepejal yang dikumpulkan dari sampel akan

dipisahkan kepada empat komponen iaitu sisa perumahan, sisa taman, sisa pukal dan sisa

berbahaya. Di samping itu, kira-kira 162 borang soal selidik telah diedarkan untuk

mendapatkan maklumat mengenai data pengenalan, pengurusan sisa pepejal dan

kesedaran awam. Pada akhir pengumpulan data, kesemua data akan dianalisis dan semua

keputusan dari analisis ini dinilai, dibincangkan dan diringkaskan. Menurut kajian ini,

antara empat komponen sisa, sisa perumahan (577.67 kg/minggu) menjadi kategori

sampah tertinggi yang dibuang oleh para penduduk. Ia terdiri daripada sisa makanan,

plastik, kertas, kaca, aluminium dan lain-lain. Kategori sisa kedua tertinggi adalah sisa

taman dengan jumlah pengeluaran 19.54 kg/minggu. Seterusnya adalah sisa pukal dan

terakhir sisa berbahaya dengan keduanya-duanya sebanyak 14 kg/minggu dan 10.52

kg/minggu. Oleh itu, kajian ini mendedahkan tentang pentingnya pengasingan sisa

pepejal di rumah, pentingnya usaha untuk meningkatkan kesedaran dalam kalangan

penduduk dan pentingnya amalan pengurangan sisa untuk memelihara alam sekitar dan

dunia untuk generasi akan datang

iv

ABSTRACT

Recently, the amount of solid waste generated increase rapidly due to rapid development,

increase in population and industrialization. This may lead to uncontrolled environmental

problem and need to be given special attention. This research aims to identify the different

types of solid waste generated from residential area in Alor Setar, Kedah and to

investigate the level of awareness and understanding towards recycling among

household. In order to get the amount of solid waste generation, this study is carried out

to get the data of waste collection by segregation and weighing of the solid waste from

50 selected houses. The solid waste collected from the samples will be segregate into four

components which are household waste, garden waste, bulky waste and household

hazardous waste. Other than that, there is about 162 questionnaires that were distributed

to get some information about the identification data, solid waste management and public

awareness. At the end of data collection, all of the data will be analyzed and all findings

from the analysis are being evaluated, discussed and summarized. According to this

study, among all four components of waste, household waste (577.67 kg/week) turns to

be the highest amount of types of waste that resident discard, which comprises of food

waste, plastics, paper, glass, aluminium and others. The second highest types of waste is

garden waste with total 19.54 kg/week of production. Next is bulky waste and lastly

household hazardous waste with both of waste are 14 kg/week and 10.52 kg/week of

production waste respectively. Hence, these studies suggest that the importance of sorting

of solid waste at home, effort to improve awareness among resident and practicing to

reduce the waste produced in order to preserve the environment and world for our future

generation.

v

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION

TITLE PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii

ABSTRAK iii

ABSTRACT iv

TABLE OF CONTENT v

LIST OF TABLES ix

LIST OF FIGURES x

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xii

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Problem Statement 2

1.3 Objectives 3

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 Introduction 4

2.2 Solid waste 4

2.3 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) 4

2.4 Waste Generation 5

2.5 Classification of Solid Waste 5

2.6 Types of Residential Waste 6

2.6.1 Household Waste 6

vi

2.6.2 Garden Waste 7

2.6.3 Bulky Waste 7

2.6.4 Household Hazardous Waste 8

2.7 Types of Residential House in Malaysia 8

2.7.1 Bungalow 8

2.7.2 Detached Houses 9

2.7.3 Town House 9

2.7.4 Single-storey Terrace House 10

2.7.5 Double-storey Terrace House 10

2.7.6 Condominium 11

2.7.7 Apartments 12

2.7.8 Service Apartment 12

2.7.9 Flats or Apartments 13

2.8 Waste Management Hierarchy 14

2.8.1 Prevention 15

2.8.2 Reuse 15

2.8.3 Recycle 15

2.8.4 Waste to Energy (WTE) 16

2.8.5 Treatment and disposal 16

2.9 Solid Waste Management 17

2.9.1 Collection and Storage of Waste 17

2.9.2 Waste Collection Points 17

2.9.3 Transportation of Wastes 18

2.10 Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (2007) 18

2.11 Waste Management Current Practices 18

2.11.1 Waste Management Policies and Programmes 18

vii

2.11.2 3R 19

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 20

3.1 Introduction 20

3.2 Study Area 21

3.3 Data Collection Method 21

3.3.1 Site Visit 22

3.3.2 Sample Collection 22

3.3.3 Sampling Procedure 22

3.3.4 Equipment 24

3.4 Questionnaire 25

3.4.1 Identification Data 25

3.4.2 Solid Waste Management 25

3.4.3 Public Awareness 26

3.5 Method of Solid Waste Characterization 26

3.6 MSW Statistical Analysis 26

3.6.1 IBM SPSS Statistics Software 26

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 28

4.1 Introduction 28

4.2 Solid Waste Composition 28

4.2.1 Low-cost Residential Area 29

4.2.2 Middle- cost Residential Area 30

4.2.3 High-cost Residential Area 32

4.3 Analysis of Weekly Solid Waste Composition 33

4.4 Questionnaire Analysis 35

viii

4.4.1 Part A Analysis : Identification Data 36

4.4.2 Part B : Solid Waste Management Analysis 41

4.4.3 Part C: Public Awareness Analysis 44

4.5 Suggestion on Reducing Total Amount of Solid Waste Generated in the Study

Area 52

4.5.1 Reducing Food Waste 52

4.5.2 Reduce the Use of Plastic 53

4.5.3 Think Before Throw 54

4.5.4 Reducing Hazardous Waste 54

4.5.5 Reducing Bulky Waste 55

4.5.6 Minimization of Garden Waste 55

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION 56

5.1 Conclusion 56

5.2 Problem Encounter 57

5.3 Recommendation 57

REFERENCES 58

APPENDIX A QUESTIONNAIRE SAMPLE 61

APPENDIX B SITE PICTURES 64

ix

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 Classification of Solid Waste in Malaysia 5

Table 4.1 Data of Solid Waste Generated in Taman Nuri for One Week for

Low Cost Residential Area 29

Table 4.2 Data of Solid Waste Generated in Taman Nuri for One Week for

Middle Cost Residential Area 30

Table 4.3 Data of Solid Waste Generated in Taman Nuri for One Week for

High Cost Residential Area 32

Table 4.4 Data of Weekly Waste Composition for the Three Types of

Residential Area 33

Table 4.5 Summary of Data from All Question 36

Table 4.6 Data of Waste Production 41

Table 4.7 Data of Solid Waste that Resident Recycle 42

Table 4.8 Result on Awareness of Waste Problem 44

Table 4.9 Result on Practice Separation of Sources 45

Table 4.10 Result of Participation in Recycle Program 46

Table 4.11 Result on 3R Activities 47

Table 4.12 Result on Proper Handling of Waste and Practicing Recycling 48

Table 4.13 Result on Essential of Public Education 49

Table 4.14 Result on Effectiveness of Campaign to Raise Public Awareness 50

Table 4.15 Result on Waste Potential to Harm Human Health, Safety, Wildlife

and Environment 51

x

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Household Waste 6

Figure 2.2 Garden Waste 7

Figure 2.3 Bulky Waste 7

Figure 2.4 Household Hazardous Waste 7

Figure 2.5 Bungalow 8

Figure 2.6 Detached House 8

Figure 2.7 Town House 9

Figure 2.8 Single-storey Terrace House 9

Figure 2.9 Double-storey Terrace House 10

Figure 2.10 Condominium 11

Figure 2.11 Apartments 12

Figure 2.12 Service Apartments 12

Figure 2.13 Flats or Apartments 13

Figure 2.14 Hierarchy of Waste Management 14

Figure 3.1 Flowchart of Research Methodology 20

Figure 3.2 Map of Study Area 21

Figure 3.3 Flowchart of Sampling 23

Figure 3.4 Weighing Scale 24

Figure 3.5 Plastic Bags 24

Figure 3.6 Gloves 25

Figure 3.7 Outlay of BIM SPSS Software 27

Figure 3.8 The Datasheet in SPSS Software 27

Figure 4.1 Percentage of Residential Waste Generated 29

Figure 4.2 Percentage of Residential Waste Generated 31

Figure 4.3 Percentage of Residential Waste Generated 32

Figure 4.4 Weekly Waste Composition for the Three Types of Residential 34

xi

Figure 4.5 Percentage of Respondent Involved by Gender 37

Figure 4.6 Status of Respondent Involved 37

Figure 4.7 Range of Respondent Age 38

Figure 4.8 Respondent Academic Qualification 38

Figure 4.9 Respondent's Employment Sector 39

Figure 4.10 Monthly Respondent Income 39

Figure 4.11 Types of Home Resident Reside 40

Figure 4.12 Amount of Household in House 40

Figure 4.13 Types of Waste Production 41

Figure 4.14 Level of Awareness of Recycle Solid Waste 42

Figure 4.15 Daily Estimated Waste Production 43

Figure 4.16 Estimated Overload Bins per Week 43

Figure 4.17 Awareness of Waste Problem 44

Figure 4.18 Practice Separation of Sources 45

Figure 4.19 Participation in Recycle Program 46

Figure 4.20 3R Recycle Activities 47

Figure 4.21 Proper Handling of Waste and Practising Recycling 48

Figure 4.22 Essential of Public Education 49

Figure 4.23 Effectiveness of Campaign to Raise Public Awareness 50

Figure 4.24 Waste Potential to Harm Human Health, Safety, Wildlife and

Environment 51

Figure 4.25 Waste that Can and Cannot be Composted 53

xii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

SWM Solid Waste Management

3R Reduce, reuse, recycle

RM Ringgit Malaysia

LFG Landfill Gas

MSW Municipal Solid Waste

SWPCM Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management

ABC Action Plan for a Beautiful and Clean Malaysia

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Solid-waste management, the collecting, treating, and disposing of solid material

that is discarded because it has served its purpose or is no longer useful (Jerry A.

Nathanson, 2010). Solid waste management (SWM) can be referred as the method to

control waste generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and

disposal of solid waste (SW) with the best practice of public health, financial, economics,

engineering, administrative, and environmental considerations. It has become a

momentous environmental, public health and economic concern to the world, especially

in developing country. A study conducted by SW Corp showed that Malaysians generated

38,000 tonnes of solid waste daily in 2016, of which 15,000 tonnes was food waste

(Danial Albakri, 2016). In order with that, Malaysian government is very committed to

improve the quality of solid waste management over the last decade.

Malaysia has many solid waste disposal sites but it is not enough to accommodate

the amount of garbage produced (Malaysian Digest, 2015). To avoid it from become

worse, a federal programme was formulated as part of the Solid Waste & Public

Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672) which aims to reduce the amount of solid

waste sent to dumpsites by 40% by the year 2020. The residents in the Federal Territory

of Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Perlis

are involved in this programme. Through this programme, a maximum fine of RM1,000

will be imposed on household who failed to separate solid waste according to types in

suitable plastic bags before dumping them, starting on 1 June 2016. Notices will be issued

to those who fail to do so in the first three months after the Act is implemented, and action

will be taken if they still refuse to do so as required under Act 672.

2

Other than that, programme such as 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) is the most

effective way that can help to reduce the amount of solid waste production and

transmission to the landfill. On 1st September 2015, programme named “Separation of

Solid Waste at Source” under supervision of Solid Waste Management and Public

Cleansing Corporation (SW Corp) was implemented in order to encourage residents to

separate the solid waste produced at source by the composition of the solid waste like

paper, plastic and other recyclable materials such as glass or ceramic, can, aluminium,

iron, metal, electronic waste, fabric, shoes, leather, and dangerous waste. Not only that,

residents also has to separate waste remnants like leftover food, diapers, and other organic

waste.

1.2 Problem Statement

Generally, the production of solid waste in Malaysia increased day by day, in line

with the rapid growth of economic and the rapid developments of cities. The increase of

urban population in Kedah had contributed to the increase of solid waste generation. It

will be worsen if the minimization of waste is not practiced by every household.

Our society eventually lack of the knowledge about the importance of solid waste

recycling practice, thus affects the community to apply it in everyday life. The knowledge

is important to predict waste segregation behaviour. Basically, increasing knowledge will

translate into a change of behaviour.

Other than that, environmental awareness among public in Malaysia is still

insufficient. The reason for the low recycling rate is due to a “much lower” level of

awareness on the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (The Star, 2017). Malaysia should

improve the awareness of recycling to the whole society by conducting more awareness

campaign, giving recycling module to teachers, talks and exhibition and more accessible

recycling facilities.

3

1.3 Objectives

The objectives of this study are:

1) To quantify solid waste generated at residential area

2) To characterized types of solid waste generated

3) To investigate the level of awareness and understanding towards recycling

among household

58

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