No abstract

A voluntary approach for recycling programme can be enhanced by the establishment of waste bank in institutions of higher education. Hence, a waste bank programme was implemented in a “close loop” system at the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia (FPAS, UPM). This aims to promote collection of recyclable materials and raise awareness among UPM students on the importance of recycling. Throughout the five (5) phases of operation, about 500 students were registered as waste bank members with the amount of total collected recyclables reaching 14,817.46 kg. The direct measurement method was applied in the waste bank operation procedure to weigh the recyclable materials received twice a week. The most frequent type of recyclable material collected was paper, including black/white paper, newspaper, and mix paper. The waste bank programme has enhanced the potential of solid waste minimisation by shifting the amount of waste disposed at the landfill site. Moreover, it enables recyclable materials to be seen as valuable resources as monetary rewards were given to encourage recycling practices among students based on the total weight for each collection of recyclable materials. Therefore, the implementation of the waste bank programme in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in Malaysia creates an opportunity to be a medium of a sustainable solid waste minimisation system in promoting sustainable green campuses at the university.

A voluntary approach for recycling programme can be enhanced by the establishment of waste bank in institutions of higher education. Hence, a waste bank programme was implemented in a “close loop” system at the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia (FPAS, UPM). This aims to promote collection of recyclable materials and raise awareness among UPM students on the importance of recycling. Throughout the five (5) phases of operation, about 500 students were registered as waste bank members with the amount of total collected recyclables reaching 14,817.46 kg. The direct measurement method was applied in the waste bank operation procedure to weigh the recyclable materials received twice a week. The most frequent type of recyclable material collected was paper, including black/white paper, newspaper, and mix paper. The waste bank programme has enhanced the potential of solid waste minimisation by shifting the amount of waste disposed at the landfill site. Moreover, it enables recyclable materials to be seen as valuable resources as monetary rewards were given to encourage recycling practices among students based on the total weight for each collection of recyclable materials. Therefore, the implementation of the waste bank programme in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in Malaysia creates an opportunity to be a medium of a sustainable solid waste minimisation system in promoting sustainable green campuses at the university.

UrusSisa is an expert system for selecting and designing solid waste technology. It can improve the process of selecting the best solid waste technology, and to make the knowledge of preliminary design of solid waste technology available. Knowledge based of UrusSisa consists of priority ranking using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and preliminary design of recommendation technology. AHP involves structuring multiple choice criteria into a hierarchy, assessing the relative importance of these criteria, and determining an overall ranking of the alternatives. Preliminary design of solid waste technology includes recycling, composting, incineration, and sanitary landfill. The performance of prototype has been tested by using case study.

Adsorption characteristics of palm oil boiler mill fly ash (POFA) for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution were investigated using batch adsorption studies. The effects of relevant parameters such as contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of copper were examined. Fundamental batch investigations indicated that 90% of the Cu(II) was removed in the first 30 min, achieving equilibration after only 270 min of agitation. The Cu(II) uptake mechanism is particularly pH-and concentration-dependant, favoring a pH value of 6.0. A decrease in adsorption capacity (q e ) with an increase in Cu(II) removal efficiency (RE %) was obtained as the adsorbent dosage increased. The adsorption behavior of Cu(II) fit well to the Langmuir isotherm, with a monolayer adsorption capacity of 17 mg/g. The applicability of the Langmuir isotherm suggested the formation of monolayer coverage of Cu(II) ions onto equivalent sites of the adsorbent. Kinetics experimental data followed the trend of pseudo second-order kinetics, which is consistent with chemisorption with intraparticle diffusion as one of the rate-determining steps. Therefore, this study indicates that POFA could be used successfully as a natural low-cost adsorbent for Cu(II) removal from aqueous solutions.

This paper provides an introspective insight about households' expectations on recycling policy and program strategies at local community level via questionnaire survey conducted based on stratified random selection. Households strongly support strategies that provide them monetary benefit such as rebates (53.66%) and incentives (67.39%); convenience such as recycling drop-off centres (77.67%), recycling bins in housing areas (86.91%), and recycling collection points (84.18%); and knowledge gain such as environmental education on recycling (80.47%) and awareness campaign (81.45%). Based on the ranking, households prefer to be offered with recycling convenience and proper facilities, besides provided with knowledge, rather than purely receiving monetary rewards. It is unavoidable that there are individuals who are not susceptible to changes, especially when majority are most likely to make their own decision on whether to recycle. The success of recycling strategies depends on how these approaches are carried out to pave the way for households towards recycling behaviour. Positive results of households' contributions should be reported to quantify their effort into perspective. When majority starts to notice the trend, they would eventually start to recycle themselves. Based on the findings, this study discusses possible recommendations for implementations in the local municipalities to extend the potentials in achieving recycling community. ABSTRAKKajian ini membincangkan pandangan secara introspektif tentang jangkaan isi rumah terhadap dasar dan strategi program kitar semula di peringkat komuniti melalui soal selidik berdasarkan pemilihan rawak berstrata. Isi rumah memberi sokongan signifikan kepada polisi atau program strategi berdasarkan faedah kewangan seperti diskaun (53.66%) dan insentif (67.38%); kemudahan seperti pusat kitar semula (77.67%), tong kitar semula di kawasan perumahan (86.91%) dan pusat pengumpulan barangan kitar semula di lokasi berhampiran (84.18%); dan maklumat melalui pendidikan alam sekitar (80.97%) dan kempen kesedaran (81.45%). Isi rumah berpendapat bahawa kemudahan kitar semula adalah aspek paling utama dalam sesuatu polisi atau program kitar semula, selain pendedahan kepada maklumat yang berkaitan, dan bukan semata-matanya penyediaan faedah kewangan. Terdapat pelbagai pendekatan dalam mempengaruhi isi rumah untuk mengitar semula tetapi juga tidak dapat dielakkan bahawa terdapat segolongan individu yang tidak dapat dipengaruhi walau apa carapun, terutamanya apabila majoriti berpendapat mereka sendiri yang membuat keputusan untuk menjadi sebahagian daripada masyarakat kitar semula atau sebaliknya. Kejayaan sesuatu polisi dan program bergantung kepada cara pelaksanaan pendekatan dalam menyediakan peluang dan galakan kepada isi rumah untuk menjadi sebahagian daripada masyarakat kitar semula. Laporan kitar semula oleh isi rumah seharusnya dilaporkan untuk membolehkan mereka menaksir usaha mereka dalam perspektif. Apabila ramai melihat amalan kitar semula sebagai trend, mereka akan mula men...