| This study attempts to (i) expand knowledge regarding solid waste management system of Malaysia, particularly the country's landfilling system, and (ii) consider options leading to structural improvements of the country's solid waste landfilling system. The first objective, derived from the literature review, revealed that existing information on Malaysia's landfills was relatively scarce and that most landfills in Malaysia comprised of open dumping operations. The widespread use of the open dumping method was regarded as an obvious sign that the existing solid waste landfilling system of Malaysia needed to be improved. The second objective was derived from analyses on the strategies employed by developed nations that revealed the fact that in addition to the acceptance of sanitary landfilling technology, societies in developed countries made a variety of structural adjustments to their respective solid waste landfilling system---all of which made possible a permanent and continuous improvements to the solid waste landfilling system.; In this study, the key components of every modern solid waste landfilling systems were identified to be comprised of (i) solid waste laws and regulations, (ii) siting, design, construction, and operation of landfill facilities, (iii) personnel management and operating expertise, (iv) organizational and management arrangement, and (v) funding mechanisms. Information on each component was collected from the largest 18 municipalities in Peninsular Malaysia, which as a group served about 42% of the Peninsular Malaysia's total population and 68% of the urban population. Instruments used to gather information consisted of a questionnaire, interviews, field observations, and document analysis. A total of 22 landfills were studied.; Key findings of this study are as follows. One, most of the 22 landfills were poorly sited and the siting procedures employed were relatively simple and based on "convenience." Second, there is a lack of landfill oversight responsibilities by higher level of authority. Third, most landfills were poorly constructed and lacking important pollution mitigation measures. Fourth, funding comes primarily from general operation funds of each municipality. Finally, operators of most landfills were untrained. The major structural issues contributing for the substandard landfilling system of the 18 municipalities are (1) lack of basic laws specifically for municipal solid waste, (2) unclear solid waste management responsibilities of higher levels of governments, (3) insufficient assistance from federal and state authorities, and (4) inadequate financial provision and untrained personnel. To bring the Malaysian solid waste landfilling system to basic industrial nations standards, this study recommends the establishment of municipal solid waste landfill laws, establishment of a permanent solid waste management training program, and the use of carbon credit for new construction of landfills as well as devising new funding mechanisms. |
