W1: Domestic waste management

 W1: Domestic waste management

Domestic waste, also known as household waste, makes up a big part of what we throw away every day. It includes many different things like leftover food, fruit peels, and other kitchen waste, which are often wet. We also throw away a lot of paper, cardboard, and plastic items, such as old newspapers, books, and packaging. Even things like broken toys, disposable plates, and empty cans are part of our daily waste. Managing all these types of waste properly is really important for recycling more and putting less trash in landfills. Separating our waste at home is a big step towards helping the environment (Dehghani et al., 2021).

Every day, Malaysians throw away about 39,078 tonnes of solid waste, equivalent to about 1.17kg per person, says the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) (Zainal, 2024). The increase in solid waste is caused by population growth, lifestyle changes, and the rapid urbanization and development process. Malaysia will run out of space for solid waste disposal at the country’s landfills by 2050 (Malaysia Waste Management, 2024). The limited land and high cost of landfill operations have increased the government’s environmental and financial concerns.

In 2015, the Malaysian government started requiring people in several states, including Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Johor, to sort their waste into different categories like paper, plastic, and organic waste before throwing it away (Khan et al., 2018). This rule aims to improve recycling and waste management. However, not everyone follows it consistently. In some places, people are more likely to separate their waste than in others. Often, households don't participate because they're not aware of the rules or they find it too troublesome. Even though there have been efforts to teach people about the importance of waste separation through educational programs, these have not always worked well, and many people still don't separate their waste as they should.

The future of domestic waste management in Malaysia should achieve near-zero landfill use and a recycling rate up to 90%. Every household and business shall sort their waste into detailed defined categories, and supported by advanced recycling technologies that efficiently process and repurpose materials. Waste-to-energy plants are widespread, turning non-recyclable waste into clean energy with minimal emissions, complementing the nation’s energy needs. Moreover, education on sustainability starts early in schools, making waste separation and recycling becoming a normal part of everyone's life. The government enforces strict waste management regulations while offering incentives for exemplary environmental stewardship. The government has strict rules about waste but also gives rewards to those who do a great job in recycling. Local communities are involved too, with places in every neighborhood where people can learn about and help with recycling. Every home has smart bins that track how much and what kind of waste is thrown out, helping to make waste collection better and the environment cleaner.

Here are few ways to solve the challenges faced and to contribute to achieve better domestic waste management. Firstly, introduce smart waste bins equipped with sensors and AI technology to Malaysian households which facilitate automated separation and recording of waste types. These bins can identify and sort waste into recyclables, organics, and general waste, providing real-time feedback to users about their waste disposal habits. Smart bins can dramatically improve sorting accuracy and recycling rates while educating households about waste management. The government can subsidize the cost of these bins and partner with local tech companies for development and distribution.

Besides, implementing small-scale, decentralized composting units which are suitable for individual homes able to help in managing organic waste. These units can be technologically enhanced to control odors and speed up the composting process of food waste. By processing organic waste locally, these units reduce the volume of waste required to be collected and generated compost that can be used as fertilizers for gardening, and thus reducing the carbon footprint associated with waste transport and commercial fertilizers and soil production.

Figure 1: Decentralized composting units (MyFeel Asia, n.d.)

Lastly, promoting education on domestic waste management via virtual reality (VR) offers unique experiences to educate residents, especially children, about the impacts of waste and the benefits of recycling. VR scenarios can simulate the consequences of poor waste management and allow users to interact with virtual environments to learn sorting techniques. Local community centers can host VR sessions, funded by educational grants or interested parties. By visually and interactively experiencing the consequences of their actions, users, especially young learners, can develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of sustainable practices. VR can also demonstrate the processes of recycling and composting in an engaging and informative way, bridging the gap between abstract knowledge and practical application.

Visiting a foreign country during the last semester break opened my eyes to how well waste management could be handled. Their system was much more advanced and efficient compared to what we have in Malaysia. This experience inspired me to think about how we can improve our own system back home. It made me realize the potential for significant changes that could make our waste management better and more sustainable. This reflection has not only expanded my understanding of waste management but also strengthened my commitment to promoting better practices in Malaysia.

 


 

Reference

Dehghani, M. H., Omrani, G. A., & Karri, R. R. (2021). Chapter 11 - Solid Waste—Sources, Toxicity, and Their Consequences to Human Health. In R. R. Karri, G. Ravindran, & M. H. Dehghani (Eds.), Soft Computing Techniques in Solid Waste and Wastewater Management (pp. 205–213). Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824463-0.00013-6

FoodCycler FC-30 - Food waste composting machine for home. (n.d.). Myfeel Asia. https://www.myfeel-my.com/products/foodcycler-food-waste-cleaning-master

Khan, I. N. G., Dahalan, W. S. a. W., & Nopiah, Z. (2018). Solid Waste Separation at Source among Households for Sustainable Solid Waste Management: The Application of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 8(4), 201–207. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2018.84.201.207

Malaysia Waste Management. (2024, March 29). International Trade Administration | Trade.gov. https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/malaysia-waste-management

Zainal F. (2024, January 2). 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/02/39000-tonnes-of-solid-waste-daily

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