Publication detail

Environmental and economic feasibility of an integrated community composting plant and organic farm in Malaysia

Lim, L.Y. Lee, C.T. Bong, C.P.C. Lim, J.S. Klemeš, J.J.

Original Title

Environmental and economic feasibility of an integrated community composting plant and organic farm in Malaysia

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Waste prevention and management become a significant issue worldwide to achieve sustainable development. Similar to many developing countries, Malaysia has faced severe problems in waste management due to its rapid economic growth and urbanisation. The municipal solid waste (MSW) production rate in Malaysia had increased significantly in a recent year, ranging from 0.8 to 1.25 kg/person.d. The wastes generated contain a high amount of organic portion with high moisture content. Improper MSW management practice or delayed in waste collection and transportation can lead to severe health issues. This paper presents a case study in Johor Bahru, Malaysia (FOLO Farm), in which a composting prototype is used as the waste management technology to recycle the food and vegetable wastes. The greenhouse gases (GHG) mitigation and economic feasibility of the integrated composting and organic farming in this study are reported. This study showed a reduction of 27% of GHG by diverting the food and vegetable wastes from open dumping to the composting plant. Higher reduction rate (similar to 44%) can be achieved with better planning of waste collection route and applying the mitigation strategies during the composting process. By adapting the membership concept, this project not only ensures the economic feasibility of running a composting plant but also secures a channel for the growth of vegetable distribution. This study provides an insight into the feasibility and desirability to implement a pilot-scale composting for organic waste management to achieve the low carbon and self-sustain community.

Keywords

Food and vegetable waste; Composting; GHG mitigation; Cost and benefit analysis; GREENHOUSE GASES; FUEL

Authors

Lim, L.Y.; Lee, C.T.; Bong, C.P.C.; Lim, J.S.; Klemeš, J.J.

Released

15. 8. 2019

Publisher

Academic Press

ISBN

0301-4797

Periodical

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Number

244

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages from

431

Pages to

439

Pages count

9

URL

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719306607

BibTex

@article{BUT162160,
  author="Lim, L.Y. and Lee, C.T. and Bong, C.P.C. and Lim, J.S. and Klemeš, J.J.",
  title="Environmental and economic feasibility of an integrated community composting plant and organic farm in Malaysia",
  journal="JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT",
  year="2019",
  number="244",
  pages="431--439",
  doi="10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.05.050",
  issn="0301-4797",
  url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719306607"
}