Environmental impact, health risk and management cost of landfilling practice: a case study in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia

Introduction: Selangor is known as the main waste contributor in Malaysia. The state generates 7,220 tons of solid waste a day. Around 80-90% of waste is disposed of in landfills that lead to environmental and human health problems as well as high management costs. Conclusion: Poor landfilling practice can cause high impacts to the environment, health and cost where other sustainable approaches of MSW management should be considered in a future study. Objective: This study aims to analyze the environmental impact, health risk and waste management costs of landfilling practice in Klang, Selangor. Methods: In this study, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methods was used to estimate the GHG emission. Air Pollutant Emission Factors (AP-42,Vol.1, 1998), and Emission Estimation Technique Manual for MSW Landfills (Version 2.0, 2010) were used to analyze non-methane organic compounds (NMOC) and heavy metals, respectively. The method from Gerard, 1998 was used to estimate the landfill area for waste disposal. For health risk assessment, the equations were obtained from U.S EPA. Mathematical equations for leachate and management costs were adopted and modified from Solid Waste Management Lab 2015. Results: In average Klang generates 199,593.48 tons/year (t/yr.) of solid waste. In total of 7 years, CH4 emission was 60,588.04 tons (mean ±SD = 8,655.43 tons / year (t/yr.) ±697.93 t) that equivalent to 1,514,700.97 tons of CO2-eq emission (mean ±SD = 216,385.85 t/yr. ±17,448.19 t). Leachate production and land use were 41,914.63 m3/yr. ±3,379.77 and 2.38 ha/year (ha/yr.) ±0.19 ha). Heavy metals were 35% Pb, 35% Zn, 14% Cr, 12% Cu and 4% Cd. The highest NMOC emission was hydrogen sulfide (2.35E-01 m3/yr.). There was an acceptable risk for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic exposure to the NMOC. Collection and transportation were the highest costs (67%) of waste management.

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