Challenges and issues in moving towards sustainable landfilling in a transitory country - Malaysia

Agamuthu, Pariatamby and Fauziah, Shahul Hamid (2011) Challenges and issues in moving towards sustainable landfilling in a transitory country - Malaysia. Waste Management & Research, 29 (1). pp. 13-19. ISSN 0734-242X , DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X10383080.

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Abstract

Malaysia disposes of 28 500 tonnes of municipal solid waste directly into landfills daily. This fact alone necessitates sustainable landfills to avoid adverse impacts on the population and the environment. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the issues and challenges faced by waste managers in moving towards sustainable landfilling in Malaysia. Various factors influence the management of a landfill. Among them is the human factor, which includes attitude and public participation. Although Malaysia's economy is developing rapidly, public concern and awareness are not evolving in parallel and therefore participation towards sustainable waste management through the 'reduce, reuse and recycle' approach (3Rs) is severely lacking. Consequently, landfill space is exhausted earlier than scheduled and this is no longer sustainable in terms of security of disposal. Challenges also arise from the lack of funding and the increase in the price of land. Thus, most waste managers normally aim for 'just enough' to comply with the regulations. Investment for the establishment of landfills generally is minimized since landfilling operations are considered uneconomical after closure. Institutional factors also hamper the practice of sustainable landfilling in the country where 3Rs is not mandatory and waste separation is totally absent. Although there are huge obstacles to be dealt with in moving towards sustainable landfilling in Malaysia, recent developments in waste management policy and regulations have indicated that positive changes are possible in the near future. Consequently, with the issues solved and challenges tackled, landfills in Malaysia can then be managed effectively in a more sustainable manner. © The Author(s) 2011.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Uncontrolled Keywords: Economic driver; Institutional driver; Public participation; Reduce; Reuse and recycle (3Rs); Sustainable landfill; Economics; Human engineering; Land fill; Management; Managers; Recycling; Societies and institutions; Solid wastes; Waste Disposal; Fluid economic development; Environmental economics; Investment; Landfill; Local participation; Municipal solid waste; Open-dumps; Privatization; Waste management policy; Malaysia Solid Waste Public Cleansing Management public attitude; Sustainability; Article; Attitude; Awareness; Economic aspect; Funding; Human activities; Malaysia; Policy; Priority journal; Public opinion; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Developing Countries; Refuse Disposal; Waste Management
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences
Depositing User: Miss Malisa Diana
Date Deposited: 04 Mar 2013 01:53
Last Modified: 06 Dec 2019 07:21
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/4975

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