1.

0 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND OF STUDY

For this semester our task project, for BFC32403-Environmental engineering course
we have been instructed make a site visit, to study and make a research about Solid Waste
collection, transport and disposal (SWM Environment, Alam Flora). Based on the site visit to
SWM Environment, our group have been selected one of the Solid Waste at Solid Waste
Management Kluang Johor Bahru The SWM is located 50 km from the center of the “Bandar
Batu Pahat” to the “Kluang”.

Solid waste management is the discipline associated with the control of generation,
storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and disposal of solid waste in manner that
is accordance with the best principles of public health, economic, engineering, conservation,
aesthetics and environmental consideration. The Solid Waste Management and Public
Cleansing (Act 672) which came into force on 1st September 2011 is Governments’ effort to
provide a systematic, coordinated, effective and efficient solid waste management system in
Malaysia. SWM Environment (SWM) will implement a new solid waste collection schedule
by substituting the 3 times a week collection to the new 2+1 collection schedule.

The new changes will see food and organic waste collected two times a week and
recyclable materials, bulky and garden waste collected once a week. All household and organic
waste must be placed in wheelie bins provided by SWM and placed on the kerbside on
collection days. Household waste placed in non-SWM bins will not be collected as our new
compactors are equipped with automated bin lifting system which lift bins mechanically thus,
eliminates manual handling of waste and waste bins during the collection process.

Bulky and garden waste along with recyclables must be placed in disposal bags and left
on kerbside on the specified collection days. Please ensure all disposal bags are tied properly
and do not obstruct our vehicles from doing the collection rounds. Serving as one of the enabler
within the scope of the Act, residents have been provided with new wheelie bins with the
capacity of 120 litters for residential premises and 240 litters for business premises.

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1.1 Types of Solid Waste

1) Residential and commercial

2) Institutional and other
3) Industrial
4) Agricultural
5) Plastics
6) Special waste

Figure 1.1: Types of solid waste

1.2 ELEMENTS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The activities associated with the management of solid waste from the point of generation to
final disposal has been group into five elements.

1) Waste generation
2) Waste handling, separation and storage
3) Collection

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 4) Separation and process
5) Transfer and transport
6) Disposal

Figure 1.2: solid waste management system

1.2.1 Solid waste generation

Solid wastes are generated from various sources by human and animal activities.

1.2.2 Waste handling, separation and storage

Management and separating of wastes until they are put into a container

1.2.3 Collection

Gathering of solid wastes and recyclable material and the transport of these materials to where
the collection vehicle is emptied

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1.2.4 Separation and processing

Source separated (at the home) and separated at transfer stations. Includes physical processes
such as shredding and screening, removal of bulk material and chemical and biological
processes such as incineration and composting

1.2.5 Transfer & transport

Use of small trucks to the biggest truck allowable to transport the wastes

1.2.6 Disposal

Landfilling or incinerating of solid waste with or without attempting to recover resources.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective of visiting the solid waste treatment

i. To study the process of solid waste management.

ii. To study the flow of the management of solid waste.

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3.0 METHODOLOGY

This section will discuss the methods that has been applied in order to gain information
to achieved to projects goals or objectives. Before admission to the site is granted, there are a
few items that we need to consider, such making an appointment with the staff, and preparing
the official letter for the company.

3.1 Interview

The interview session is to gain information regarding the solid waste management from SWM
has been an eye opener and an opportunity for us to learn more about solid waste management
process. The findings from the interview and the visits will be discussed in detail in the next
section.

Figure 3.1: Interview session

3.2 Site visit

The project research was undergone at one of the branch of SWM which is located at Kluang,
Johor on 16th November 2017. We were being shown around the process of the handling of
solid waste which is being handled around Kluang, from the collection processes until the
disposing of the waste. The interview was done by one of the staff of SWM Kluang who goes
by the name Mr.Wan who is working in the human resource department. The interview was
about the daily process of the solid waste management whilst we were also being shown about
the management of the operation of SWM.

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 Apart from the interview, we had the opportunity to witness the daily activities of solid
waste management from SWM. The staff representative, Che Wan, has agreed to escort us to
some of the spot where activities of solid waste management has been performed (Drainage
and grass clearing activities). The overall interview was being done from 9 in the morning until
around 1 in the afternoon which we have covered all the daily activity of the SWM concerning
the handling of solid waste.

Figure 3.2: Introduction to the site

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4.0 FINDINGS

This section will discuss in detail the findings gathered from the interview in the
parameter of the office, and the visitation from the several location in Simpang Renggam. This
branch emphasizes on the transportation of the solid waste before entering the landfill. During
the visit, we have been introduced to a several waste transport vehicles that has been utilize in
order to relocate the solid waste to the landfill. Below are the details of the findings.

4.1 DURING THE INTERVIEW

Transportation in management of solid waste plays a major role in preventing pollution.

A well manage transportation system ensure that the solid waste are properly collected from
the local waste collection locations to the regional waste disposal site in large waste
transport vehicles.

4.1.1 Waste storage containers

The third stage of the waste management chain begins when a householder or business
employee puts their waste in a container. The choice of container will depend on several
factors, including the wealth of the household and the amount of waste to be collected. It will
also depend on the collection system.

The most common types of storage containers in a residential area are the 120 litre bin,
which has the capacity to hold the least amount of domestic waste from the residential area.
At the other extreme are wheeled bins that can hold up to 240 litres of waste. These 2 storage
bins need to be emptied into a vehicle fitted with lifting equipment. Any system using this type
of bin needs well-maintained wide roads within 10 m or so of each property served.

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 Figure 4.1: 120 litter bin Figure 4.2: 240 litter bin

Other than the 2 mentioned bins above, communal bins need to be larger than domestic
containers and they should also be more robust. This type of bin has the capacity to hold up to
a massive 1100 litre of waste. Often, they need to be emptied by a specialised vehicle fitted
with lifting equipment.

Figure 4.3: 1100 litre communal bin

4.1.2 Waste Collection

After on-site storage, the next step is collection. Collection is one of the major process
in solid waste management where domestic waste from the point where it is placed by the
person or organisation that has produced it are gathered for disposal. These collection points
could be located outside each individual household and business, or communal containers
serving a number of households.

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 To facilitates this process, a number of waste collection vehicles are needed to perform
the task. Depending on the requirement and function, a different waste collection vehicle
are deployed. Below are the different types of waste collection vehicle that has been
utilised by SWM for their daily routine.

4.1.2.1 Bulky Waste Lorry

As the name suggest, this waste collection vehicle are responsible on for the collection
of bulky waste (as shown in figure 4.5). Another thing worth mentioning is that this vehicle are
equipped with a jumbo bag, to which any of the recyclable material collected will be segregated
from the domestic and bulky waste, and are put into the jumbo bag.

Figure 4.4: Bulky waste lorry

4.1.2.2 Compactor

The most expensive waste collection/transfer vehicle. This vehicle are usually equipped
with a hydraulic compaction. It is to be noted that the hydraulics compaction feature for this
vehicle are not suitable for high density waste, and hydraulics need specialist maintenance. The
compactor are only suitable for collecting low-density waste in large quantities where road
conditions are good.

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 Figure 4.5: Compactor

4.1.2.3 Road Sweeper

Modern street sweepers are equipped with water tanks and sprayers used to loosen
particles and reduce dust. The brooms gather debris into a main collection area from which it
is vacuumed and pumped into a collection bin or hopper.

Figure 4.6: Road sweeper

4.2 LOCATION VISIT

After the interview session, and introduction to the numbers of major waste collection
vehicle utilise by SWM, we had the opportunity to witness the routine of drainage cleaning
done by this company. As usual, the process will also required the capability of modern
machinery to ensure optimum performance and results.

Typically, the process will require 3 machinery or vehicle to function simultaneously.

The first machinery that will assist in this process is the water tank. The main function of the
water tank is to deliver enough water supply to the water jet.

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 Figure 4.7: Water jet cleaning

The main function of the water jet is to soften, and blow away the filth on the surface
of the drain. Other than that, the water jet also function to facilitate the suction process done
by the third machinery, which is the ultra-whack machine. After the filth or little waste has
been soften and broken down by the water jet, the ultra-whack will suck the remaining of the
filth into its individual tank.

The ultra-whack machine will generate approximately 150,000 RPM in order to create
an optimum suction power. Run by a diesel fuel, this machine operate on a temperature
no more than 120 ℃, which are indicated on the meter.

Figure 4.8: Ultra whack meters

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 Figure 4.9: Suction process by the ultra-whack

According to our respondent on the location, the process usually take about 4 hours to
complete in one location, depending on the severity of the drainage if it were packed with
waste, and the density of the waste itself. This will ensure that a constant, or maybe a periodic
cleaning schedule are implemented in order to prevent any serious blockade of the drainage as
a results from the accumulated waste.

5.0 BENEFITS FROM SITE VISIT

There are a lot of benefits that we got from the site. The main benefit of this site visit
is we can see how the solid waste management is processed. We can gain a lot of information
or input that we cannot get from the class. The process is clearly stated by the operator that is
in charge to explain the process that is practically done at site as compared in class, that only
learn the theoretically. The process of solid waste management that been exposed in our site
visit such as transportation schedule for each area, transportation and machinery that the used
and the scopes of their work. They also bring us to see a process cleaning drainage for
residential.

In a conclusion, we learned how to interact with the employees, operator and also staff
in order to communicate with them so that they can deliver the information very well. We learn
how to discuss and share ideas about some issues relating to the water treatment. We are also
feel very grateful to cooperate with them because they are so kind and welcomed us to come
to learn about the solid waste management.

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6.0 RECOMMENDATION

In our conversation and we observed at the depart place, we have not seen any pollution.
Even the water of the cleaning truck process, the water will be collected and will be transfer to
the leakage pone for treatment before the water can be transfer to the river. All of the work is
being controlled with ISO to protect and provide the comfort and healthy for the other user.

But, we also can do some upgrade for our future to improve the transportation of the
rubbish, improve the 3R collection, improve the leakage problem from the truck for collecting
the solid waste, and make a schedule for people to dispose of waste. Maybe, it is possible that
the method we suggest is capable to change the future.

6.1 Transportation of The Rubbish

We suggest the system for collecting the solid waste to transport the solid waste to the
landfill are not using manpower. This way may save on the use of manpower and focus more
on management on landfill. All the solid waste can be transfer through the basement transport.
This way can avoid the uncomfortable smell when the truck arrive to collecting the solid waste.
In this way, it is possible that our country is highly regarded by the use of high technology for
collecting the solid waste.

6.2 Improve The 3R Collection

This idea is to collecting the 3R solid waste by make the 3R truck that collecting house
to house. This way may collect more 3R collect. Other than that, can reduce the user of element
to create the 3R things such as wood, metal, glass and others. Futhure more, there have some
solid waste that can be recycle and also dangerous to burn. If this method can be uses, we can
save to many resources and uses of the recycle item will increase if we just supply the recycle
item.

6.3 Improved The Leakage Problem From The Truck For Collecting The Solid Waste

Worldwide are characterized by, among other things, a high production of wastes of
different types. More than 90% of urban solid wastes is brought to deposits. If the waste dumps

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or landfills are not designed, constructed, managed, and finally recultivated, according to the
state of the art, dangerous impacts, especially on urban groundwater, can be expected.
Percolating water from rainfall or surface overflow is strongly influenced by the components,
the construction and the chemical/biological processes in the deposits. The leakage water has
to be considered one of the most polluted and extremely unpredictable waste waters.
Percolating into the natural groundwater has the effect that this resource is spoiled and no
longer suitable for human use or as a component of ecosystems. Old waste dumps must restore
and recultivated.

So, if the truck is having problem, fix and do some maintenance before collecting the
solid waste. Besides that, the truck must be inspecting and get approving before carrying out
the duty. If the truck doesn’t have any problem and no leakage problem, there has no leakage
problem will be report during or after collecting waste.

7.0 CONCLUSION

From this project we have been able to get the opportunity of being involved and
informed in a daily process of managing the solid waste which revolves around the population
of Kluang, Johor. We were able to understand the activities involved in managing waste from
the management part and also the operational part of the waste management and this involves
the process of collecting the daily domestic waste, recycling material, cleaning part of the city
like sewers, curbs and grass. We also get to know how frequent the process of collecting waste
is being handled for each different type of waste as there are different time for picking up the
waste for different type of waste. All the collected waste will be transported to the nearest
landfill which is located in Simpang Renggam where all the collected waste will be weigh
before being kept in the landfill, all the recyclable material will be sold to a different company
in which the money gained from the recycle process will be given to a donation of which is
selected by SWM. As we get involved with this project we can gain some insight of what are
the work needed to be done in term of managing the solid waste material and how we can
integrate what we have learn in class in the field of work later.

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8.0 Reference

1. Site visit to solid waste management Kluang.

2. Environmental engineering book

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management

- From Wikipedia website

4. https://www.thebalance.com/an-introduction-to-solid-waste-management-2878102

- An Introduction to Solid Waste Management

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9.0 Appendix

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