the study of waste minimization

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THE STUDY OF WASTE MINIMIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL

ASSESSMENTS IN AN OFF-SITE FACILITY

LIZA BINTI SHAH ALI CHARLIE

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA


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PSZ 19:16 (Pind. 1/97)

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS

JUDUL:THE STUDY OF WASTE MINIMIZATION ANDENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS IN AN OFF-SITE

FACILITY

SESI PENGAJIAN: 2008/2009

Saya LIZA BINTI SHAH ALI CHARLIE

(HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis *(PSM/Sarjana/Doktor Falasfah) ini disimpan di Perpustakaan

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1.

Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

2.

Perustakaan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk tujuan

pengajian sahaja.

3.

Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan tesis ini sebagai bahan pertukaran di antara

institusi pengajian tinggi.

4. **Sila tandakan (/ )

SULIT (Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau

kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA

RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh

organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

TIDAK TERHAD

Disahkan oleh

_______________________________________ _________________________________ __

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Alamat Tetap:

Nama Penyelia

Tarikh : 28 APRIL 2009 Tarikh: 28 APRIL 2009

PROF. MADYA DR. JOHAN BIN SOHAILINO 132, LORONG 5,

TAMAN MARISA,

34000 TAIPING,

PERAK.

CATATAN: * Potong yang tidak berkenaan.** Jika tesis ini SULITatau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi

berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai

SULIT atau TERHAD. Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah dan Sarjana secara

penyelidikan, atau disertasi bagi pengajian secara kerja kursus dan penyelidikan, atau

Laporan Projek Sarjana Muda (PSM).


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I hereby declare that I have read this thesis and in my opnion this thesis is sufficient

in term of scope and quality for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Civil

Engineering

Signature : ....

Name of Supervisor : ASSOC. PROF. DR. JOHAN SOHAILI

Date : 28 APRIL 2009


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THE STUDY OF WASTE MINIMIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL

ASSESSMENTS IN AN OFF-SITE FACILITY

LIZA BINTI SHAH ALI CHARLIE

A report submitted in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the award of the degree of

Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

MAY 2009


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I declare that this thesis entitled The Study of Waste Minimization and

Environmental Assessments in an Off-site Facility is the result of my own research

except as cited in the references. The thesis has not been accepted for any degree and

is not concurrently submitted in candidature of any other degree.

Tandatangan :

Nama : LIZA BINTI SHAH ALI CHARLIE

Tarikh : 28 APRIL 2009


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DEDICATION

As this journey begun

Passing through a long distance and difficult path

A shine of guidance given to lead this dark trail

To Assoc. Prof. Dr. Johan Sohaili as my supervisor to lead me patiently

Daddy and Mommy

You are my supports that always embrace me

You always have been there for me

Through your prayers and love

Both of you as been my eyes to lead this hopeful journey

To both of you Charlie and Zaiton

My Siblings

Companions where I can share my happiness and sadness

As all of you always bringing me laughter and joy

Presents of you all simply ease my journey

To Kamal, Yunus and Jasmin

As this journey nearly end

Where all my efforts, time, hard work gathered

Finally, to You I lay my burden

Hoping for the Best


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In writing this Projek Sarjana Muda Kejuruteraan Awam, there are so many

persons involved to assist me to complete this project. Hence, I take this opportunity

to thanks each and every one of them and to let them know I really do appreciate it

all.

My first thanks goes to my beloved Supervisors, P.M.Dr. Johan Sohaili, to

really been patient and calm to lead me to do the best. Besides that, an important

thanks to the owner of the off-site facility that been studied, Mr. Raja Ramasamy

allowing me to carry this study. To Mr. Mohandas Mohunthan and Mr. Arumugham

Balasubramaniam who really has been helpful in sharing every information about the

off-site facility. My thanks to both of you Sir

To the Fakulti Kejuruteraan Awam Laboratory Technicians who really had

been helpful to assist me during the sampling and laboratory experiments. Thanks so

much. To my friends who always has been there for me, my thanks to you all.

Finally, my family, thanks for your support and love. Thank you for everything.


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ABTRACT

Small and medium industries are very important to developing country like

Malaysia. The growth of these industries and its productivity plays important role to

boost the country economy. However, many of these industries are generating

hazardous waste which can brings negative impacts to the environment and to other

living organisms. Hence, managing the hazardous waste is very essential to prevent

environmental pollution and providing safer environment to live. Therefore, the best

way to manage hazardous waste is by waste minimization. One of the waste

minimization techniques prefer by these hazardous waste generators is to send theirhazardous waste to an off-site recycling and recovery facility. A study was conducted

to understand the recycling process of hazardous used drum, container, and

rags/filters in an off-site facility. Based on the recycling process, the effectiveness of

the off-site facility in minimizing hazardous waste is evaluated. Overall 99.33% of

the hazardous wastes are been minimized by the studied facility. Environmental

assessment comprising water quality, noise level and air quality also been carried out

at the studied facility to identify if the facility emits any pollutants. The water quality

parameters of Temperature, DO, pH, BOD5, COD, TSS and heavy metal of Copper

as Cu and Iron as Fe of treated water from the wastewater treatment plant in the

facility has been analyzed. The results shows the only concentration that not comply

is Copper as Cu with 1.2 mg/L whereby 0.2 mg/L higher the guidelines limit. Two

nearby streams also been assessed to obtained the Water Quality Index (WQI) toclassified the streams. The streams are in Class IV and Class II which indicating

water qualities of streams are polluted and clean respectively. The noise levels were

assessed at the boundary area of the studied facility. All noise levels that comply

with the regulatory requirement. The results for all air quality parameters of TSP,

CO, SO2, and NO2 also comply with guidelines limit showing the facility does not

emit gases at dangerous level. Overall, it can be concluded that the studied facility

does not creates pollutants at concerning level other than effectively minimizing

scheduled wastes.


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ABSTRAK

Industri kecil dan sederhana adalah amat penting bagi negara yang sedang

membangun seperti Malaysia. Kemajuan and produktiviti industri-industri ini

memainkan penting dalam meningkatkan ekonomi negara. Akan tetapi, kebanyakan

industri-industri ini menjana sisa berbahaya yang boleh mengundang impak negatif

kepada kehidupan. Maka, pengurusan sisa berbahaya ini penting untuk

mengurangkan pencemaran alam serta untuk menyediakan persekitaran yang selamat

untuk hidup. Cara terbaik untuk menguruskan sisa berbahaya adalah pengurangan

sisa. Salah satu teknik pengurangan sisa berbahaya yang menjadi pilihan penjana sisaberbahaya adalah menghantar sisa berbahaya ke pusat kitar semula dan memperoleh

kembali di luar dari kawasan penjanaan sisa berbahaya. Satu kajian telah dijalankan

bagi memahami proses kitar semula tong drum, bekas and kain buruk/penapis

terpakai yang berbahaya di sesebuah pusat kitar semula dan memperoleh kembali

buangan terjadual. Berdasarkan proses proses kitaran semula tong drum, bekas, kain

buruk/penapis terpakai yang dijalankan, keberkesanan pusat tersebut dalam

mengurangkan buangan terjadual dinilai. Secara keseluruhan, 99.33% buangan

terjadual dapat dikurangkan oleh pusat kitar semula dan memperoleh kembali

tersebut. Penilaian alam sekitar merangkumi kualiti air, paras bunyi dan kualiti udara

juga telah dijalankan di pusat kitar semula bagi menentukan samada pusat yang

dikaji melepaskan sebarang bahan cemar. Parameter bagi kualiti air seperti suhu,

DO, pH, BOD5, COD, TSS and logam berat kuprum (Cu) dan Ferum (Fe) ke atas airdirawat daripada loji rawatan air sisa di pusat tersebut dikaji. Keputusan

menunjukkan hanya kepekatan logam berat kuprum (Cu) tidak mematuhi standard

dimana 1.2 mg/L iaitu 0.2 mg/L lebih tinggi daripada had yang dibenarkan. Dua

batang sungai yang berhampiran pusat yang dikaji juga dinilai untuk mendapatkan

Indeks Kualiti Air bagi mengklasifikasikan kedua-dua sungai tersebut. Sungai-sungai

tersebut dikelaskan dalam Kelas IV and Kelas II menunjukkan kualiti air sungai

masing-masing tercemar dan bersih. Ukuran paras bunyi di sempadan pusat yang

dikaji juga dijalankan. Kesemua paras bunyi yang mematuhi undang-undang.

Keputusan bagi semua parameter kualiti udara seperti TSP, CO, SO2, dan NO2juga

mematuhi standard menunjukkan pusat kitar semula dan memperoleh kembali

tersebut tidak melepaskan gas pada tahap yang berbahaya. Keseluruhan, boleh

disimpulkan pusat yang dikaji tidak menghasilkan pencemaran pada tahap yangmembimbangkan selain daripada mengurangkan buangan terjadual secara berkesan.


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TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT v

ABSTRAK vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES x

LIST OF FIGURES xii

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS xv

I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Problem Statement 2

1.3 Study Objectives 5

1.4 Scope of Study 5

1.5 Significance of Study 6

II LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Waste 8

2.2 Non-Hazardous Waste versus Hazardous Waste 12


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2.3 Hazardous Waste 12

2.3.1 Hazardous Waste Identification and Characteristics 13

2.3.2 Scheduled Waste Definition in Malaysia 18

2.3.3 Waste Mixture 19

2.3.4 Waste Derived from Hazardous Waste 20

2.4 Hazardous Waste Generators 21

2.5 Hazardous Waste Generations 25

2.6 Impacts of Hazardous Waste 28

2.7 Hazardous Waste Management 30

2.7.1 Hazardous Waste Minimization 32

2.7.2 Waste Minimization Assessment 33

2.8 Drum and IBC 34

2.8.1 Drum 35

2.8.2 IBC 37

2.8.3 Drum and IBC Quality Testing 38

2.8.4 Waste Drum and IBC 38

2.8.5 Drum Reconditioning and Management 39

2.8.6 Used Industrial Drum/Container Recycling Facility 41

2.9 Rags/Filters 42

2.9.1 Sources of Contaminated Rags/Filters 43

2.9.2 Management of Contaminated Rags/Filters 44

2.9.3 Used Industrial Rags/Filters Recycling Facility 46

2.10 Conclusion 47

III METHODOLOGY

3.1 Description of Study Fields 49

3.2 Location of Study Field 49

3.3 Study Methodology 50

3.4 Sampling Locations 52

3.5 Parameters Analyzed and Methodology Instruments 55

3.5.1 Water Quality Assessment 55


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3.5.2 Noise Level Assessment 59

3.5.3 Air Quality Assessment 60

IV RESULT AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Recycling and Recovery Facility 63

4.2 Used Industrial Drum (SW 409) 64

4.2.1 Used Drum Segregations 65

4.2.2 Cargo Types Cleaned by the Studied Facility 66

4.2.3 Drum Recycling Process 68

4.3 Industrial Cotton Rags/Filters (SW410) 79

4.3.1 Rags/Filters Segregations 79

4.3.2 Rags/Filters Recycling Process 81

4.4 Waste Minimization in the Studied Facility 83

4.4.1 Incoming Raw Wastes 84

4.4.2 Recovered Wastes 86

4.4.3 Wastes Generated During the Recycling Process 92

4.4.4 Overall Waste Minimization in the Studied Facility 98

4.5 Environmental Assessment of the Studied Facility 104

4.5.1 Water Quality Assessment 104

4.5.2 Noise Level Assessment 106

4.5.3 Air Quality Assessment 107

V CONCLUSION

5.1 Conclusion 108

5.2 Recommendations 110

REFERENCES 111


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LIST OF TABLES

TABLE TITLE PAGE

2.1 Waste Categories based Chemical Composition 9

2.2 Waste Categories based on Reactivity and Environmental Risk 10

2.3 Waste Categories based on Source of Generation 11

2.4 Maximum Concentration of Contaminants for Toxicity

Characteristics Leaching Procedure 16

2.5 Maximum Concentration of Contaminants for Toxicity

Characteristics Compositional Analysis 17

2.6 Categories of RCRA Hazardous Waste 21

2.7 Typical Hazardous Household Products 22

2.8 Hazardous Waste Generated by Industry 24

2.9 Malaysia: Scheduled Waste Handling in 2006 26

2.10 Malaysia: Quantity of Scheduled Wastes Generated by

Category in 2006 27

2.11 Malaysia: Quantity of Scheduled Wastes Generated by

Industry in 2006 28

2.12 Potential Human Exposure to Toxic Waste 29

2.13 List of Off-Site Facilities (Used Drums/Containers-SW409)

Licensed by DOE in 2008 42

2.14 Sources of Contaminants Rags/Filters 44

2.15 List of Off-Site Facilities (Used Rags-SW410) Licensed by DOE

in 2008 47

3.1 Summary of Methodologies for Primary Data 51

3.2 Summary of Methodologies for Secondary Data 51

3.3 Summary of Laboratory Experiments 62

3.4 Summary of Field Experiments 62


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4.1 Incoming Raw Wastes into the Studied Facility 86

4.2 Incoming and Outgoing Steel Drum, Plastic Drums and

IBCs to the Studied Facility 87

4.3 Recovered Steel Drum (kg) in the Studied Facility 88

4.4 Recovered Plastic Drum (kg) in the Studied Facility 88

4.5 Recovered IBCs (kg) in the Studied Facility 89

4.6 Incoming and Outgoing Rags/Filters (kg) to the Facility

in 2008 89

4.7 Recovered Rags/Filters (kg) in the Studied Facility 90

4.8 Recovered Wastes in the Studied Facility in 2008 92

4.9 Heels Disposed by the Studied Facility in 2008 95

4.10 Disposed Rags/Filters by the Studied Facility in 2008 95

4.11 Amount Cleaning Agent Used During the Recycling Process

in 2008 96

4.12 Amount of Products Used During the Recycling Process in

2008 97

4.13 Streams Water Quality and Its Compliances 104

4.14 Facilitys Treated Water Quality and its Compliances 105

4.15 Facilitys Noise Level and its Compliances 106

4.16 Facilitys Air Quality and Its Compliances 107


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LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURES TITLE PAGE

2.1 Characteristics of Hazardous Waste 18

2.2 The Mixing Rules Producing Hazardous Waste 20

2.3 The Mixing Rules Producing Non-Hazardous Waste 20

2.4 Global Hazardous Waste Generation by Type as reported by

the Parties to the Basel Convention 25

2.5 Environmental Contamination Caused By the Leaks from

Stored Drum 30

2.6 Waste Minimization Hierarchy Approaches to Pollution

Pollution Prevention 32

2.7 Waste Minimization Techniques 33

2.8 Balances of Input and Output of Process 34

2.9 Recommended External Color of Steel Drum 35

2.10 Steel Drum with Maximum Capacity of 44 Gallon in Yellow

and Blue Color 36

2.11 Blue Colored Plastic Drum with Maximum Capacity of 44

Gallon 36

2.12 Black and Clear IBC with Maximum Capacity of 1000L 37

2.13 Waste Management Hierarchy 40

2.14 Cotton Rags from Drum Recycling Industry 43

3.1 Location of Field Study 50

3.2 Water Quality Sampling Point Locations 52

3.3 Noise Sampling Point Locations 53

3.4 Air Emission Sampling Point Locations 53

3.5 Sampling Point Locations for Environmental Assessments

in the Studied Facility 54


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3.6 Multi Parameter YSI-550A Instrument Used to obtain

DO Level 56

3.7 Preparing BOD Trak along with Bottles of 350 mL water

Sample to be Stored in the Incubator 58

3.8 Glass Microfiber Filter Disk which attached to Vibrator for TSS

Experiment 58

3.9 HACH DR/4000 Spectrometer and Blank Sample for COD,

NH3-N, and Heavy Metals Laboratory Apparatus 59

3.10 Bruel and Kjaer Prescision Integrated Sound Meter Type

2238 Instrument was read every 5 Minutes for 1 Hour 60

3.11 Gray Wolf Direct Sense Apparatus was used to Obtained

SO2, NO2 and CO directly 61

3.12 TSP Apparatus was used to assess TSP Parameter 61

4.1 Drum Reconditioning Plant in the Studied Facility 65

4.2 Incoming Used Drums Segregation in Studied Facility 66

4.3 Cargo Types Cleaned by the Studied Facility 67

4.4 Cargos of Used Drums Rejected by the Studied Facility 68

4.5 Steel Drum (A-Drum) Recycling Process 70

4.6 Type of Heel Collected from B-drum 71

4.7 Steel Drum (B-Drum) Recycling Process 72

4.8 Lids of Open Headed Top Drum 73

4.9 Open Headed Top Steel Drum and AK-Drum Recycling Process 74

4.10 Plastic Drum Cleaning Process Area in the Studied Facility 75

4.11 Plastic Drum Recycling Process in the Studied Facility 76

4.12 IBC Recycling Process in the Studied Facility 78

4.13 Contaminated Rags/Filters in the Studied Facility 79

4.14 Incoming Rags/Filters Segregations in the Studied Facility 80

4.15 Contaminated Rags/Filters Washing Area in the Studied Facility 80

4.16 Rags/Filters Recycling Process in the Studied Facility 82

4.17 Waste Minimization Analysis in the Studied Facility 83

4.18 Incoming Raw Wastes (kg) in the Studied Facility 85

4.19 Total of Recovered Wastes in the Studied Facility 91

4.20 Heels Removal in the Each Containers Recycling Process

in the Studied Facility 93


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4.21 Amount of Heels (kg) Disposed by the Studied Facility 94

4.22 Sludge Cake (kg) Generated by WWTP in the Studied Facility 97

4.23 Waste Steel Drum Minimization in the Studied Facility 99

4.24 Waste Plastic Drum and IBC Minimization in the Studied

Facility 100

4.25 Waste Rags/Filters Minimization in the Studied Facility 101

4.26 Overall Waste Minimization in the Studied Facility 103


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LIST OF SYMBOL AND ABBREVIATION

% Percentage

g/m3 Microgram per cubic meter

NH3-N Ammonia Nitrogen

BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand

CFR Code of Federation

CO Carbon Monoxida

COD Chemical Oxygen Demand

Cu Copper

dB Desibels

DO Dissolved Oxygen

DOE Department of Environmental

Fe Iron

IBC Integrated Bulk Containers

kg Kilogram

L Liter

m3 Cubic Meter

mg/L milligram per liter

NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide

oC Celsius

ppm part per million

SO2 Sulfur Dioxide

TSP Total Suspended Particulates

TSS Total Suspended Solid

USEPA United State Environmental of Agency

WQI Water Quality Index


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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Introduction

Malaysia is a one of developing country and in such country, industrial

growth and its productivity plays an important role in contributing to the

development of the nation. Thus, Government is encouraging small and medium

industrial to be established to boost the country economy. One of business that are

preferred is recycling and recovery scheduled wastes such as used drums/containers

and rags/filters business which is expanding rapidly now days because it pays

incomes. As in United State of America, many American believes that recycling will

pay itself. Certainly, more and more material recovery facilities were being opened

and, material manufacturing industries are retooling to accept recyclables (Rogoff

and Williams, 1994).

Local off-site recycling and recovery facilities play important roles in

managing scheduled waste as the rising amount of the scheduled wastes from varies

types of industries. According to Department of Environment (DOE, 2007), a total of

1,103,457.06 metric tones of scheduled wastes were generated in 2006 as compared

to 548,916.11 metric tones in 2005 in Malaysia. These facilities are experts in cater

proper scheduled wastes management. The local off-site recovery facilities handled

29,001.41 metric tones of scheduled wastes, which are 26 % of the scheduled wastes

generated in 2006 (DOE, 2007). This approved these facilities good in waste

management which can prevent illegal dumping of generators of scheduled wastes.


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By preventing the illegal dumping indicates the environment is secure from the

pollutants from scheduled wastes. Besides that, this facility also helping other

industries to reducing of environmental liabilities and to disposal its in a proper and

safest manner.

The most fascinating about these facilities is that indirectly these facilities are

implementing waste minimization which is absolute solution to growing number of

scheduled wastes problem. By applying the techniques of reuse, recycle and recovery

of waste, these facilities has been great helpful to environment by conserving of the

natural resources. Many toxic or hazardous wastes contain valuable materials.

Whenever this is the case, recovery and reuse is one of the most desirable methods of

hazardous waste avoidance (Power, 1976). It does also lengthen the economic life of

ultimate waste disposal through volume reduction of scheduled wastes that undergo

final disposal. This reduces the ultimate disposal of wastes and only requires smaller

area of landfills where landfills area are very few and new landfill site are not be

welcomed by the public.

In minimizing scheduled wastes recycling and recovery is the technique use

in these facilities because source reduction from generators are difficult to put into

action. Source reduction involves the use of process, practices or products to reduce

or eliminate the generation and or the toxicity of pollutants and wastes (Abbas

Ghassemi, 2002).Yet, these facilities have its own risk of handling scheduled wastes

because these facilities take incoming wastes from vary of developing industries.

This Industrial development has generated complex waste, a complexity not only due

to the quantity of wastes, but also to their composition (Wei and Huang, 2001). Thus,

recycling and recovery facility always have a high threat of dealing with incoming

hazardous wastes.

1.2 Problem Statement

Drum is very convenience container that serve as storage and shipping for a

variety of hazardous and non-hazardous substances which including beverages,


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foods, chemicals, petroleum, paint and many more. The increasing demand for drums

and containers from varies of industries makes the production of drums and

containers become higher. However, discarding large amount of used drums and

containers can be a problem if the left over of the used drums contents hazardous

wastes. Dumping such used drums/containers can be harmful to environment which

can leads to water, air or soil pollution. Besides that, it also lost the natural resources

such as steels and plastics.

The used drums contained a wide variety of hazardous wastes including oil,

acids, solvent, paint wastes, polychlorinated-biphenyls (PBC), pesticides and

radioactive material (Schuezt, 1995). Hazardous substances are those chemical and

petroleum products which exhibit characteristic of toxicity, ignitability, flammability,

reactivity and corrosivity. Depending on their quantities, concentrations, and

physical and chemical characteristics, these substances may pose substantial present

or future hazards to human health or the environmental if improperly treated, stored,

transported or disposed of (Whitman and Baltimore, 1985).

Even if the drums not contents hazardous wastes, disposal of the used drums

as solid wastes can be difficult because drums require bigger area of landfills. So,

many of the industries choose to send the used drums and containers to off-site

recycling and recovery facilities which make them got off the hook. On the other

hand, these recycling and recovery facilities still always have the threats of managing

the hazardous wastes, in order to recycle and recondition the used drums and

containers to the workers and surrounding environment.

For instances, the risks of occupational exposure of workers to the chemical

residues and volatile organic are high. Accidental spill or releases of hazardous

substances can result in contamination of groundwater and surface water, exposure

of populations to toxic or carcinogenic chemicals, destruction of property, severe

financial liabilities, and adverse corporate publicity (Whitman and Baltimore, 1985).

Meanwhile, used industrial rags that has been sent of to recycling and recovery

facilities because its also could be classified as scheduled wastes if contents any

hazardous substances. Industrial rags are use as wiping fabrics along with solvent to

clean variety materials widely used in industries. Its might content solvent, ink,


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acids, alkaline or petroleum based products which could not be disposal as solid

wastes. Its can not be simply clean wet washing, even if it so, the washing water used

may also be contaminated.

Similar to rags, filters are cotton construction used mainly for particulate and

organic waste removal to protect sensitive machines. The material attached is

valuable and could be recovered. An extensive use of rags/filters from cleaning and

decreasing process of from electronics manufacturers, paint industry from solvent

based paint manufacturers and paint packaging factories, ink industry from ink

manufacturers and printing companies contributes mountains contaminated

rags/filters. Hence, recycle at the recycling and recovery facilities is the best way to

minimize the ultimate disposal of used rags/filters and to safe handle of hazardous

substances.

Off-site recycling and recovery of some hazardous materials is difficult

because of the dangerous nature of the chemicals themselves. Unlike some municipal

waste such as aluminum which is fairly easy to recycle, some hazardous chemicals

are prone to ignite and be reactive. In addition, the fear that industries have of

accidents and spills during transportation or recycling operations and the resulting

liability can sometimes present an obstacle to the recycling of hazardous materials

off-site.

The chemical or hazardous substances in residues in the drums/containers or

in contaminated rags/filters collected by these facilities can change significantly in

terms of their chemical characteristics especially with the advent of new costumers

and different types of residues transported. This also can greatly influence the

characteristics of the wastewater generated by the washing operations. Increases in

the number of drums, containers and rags/filters processed also to an increased

quantity of wastewater generated in the washing operations. The reuse of treated

water which is discharge from inefficiency wastewater treatment plant can be

harmful to workers during the washing process.

Besides that, the activities that carried out in such facility itself will

contribute pollutants which will be hazardous to health workers in the facility and the


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surrounding area such as occupational noise pollution. Health hazards are those

which can cause illness or biologic damage, such as through exposure to toxic

materials, including carcinogens or physical agents (Whitman and Baltimore, 1985).

Too long of exposure to the loud noise, the workers might suffering for long-term

hearing loss. It is also a disturbance to neighboring residents. On the other hand,

these facilities also might emit of air pollutions which will be hazardous to the

environment. The workers are in high risk in expose to hazardous substances which

can be very hazardous to human skin.

1.3 Study Objectives

The objectives of this study are:

(i) To study the recycling process of used steel drum, plastic drum,

integrated bulk container (IBC) and used rags/filters in the studied

facility.

(ii) To evaluate the overall waste minimization in the studied facility that

involved recycling process of raw wastes of used steel drum, plastic

drum, IBC and rags/filters.

(iii) To assess the environmental regulatory compliances of the studied

facility which comprises of water quality, air quality and noise level.

1.4 Scope of Study

This study is carried out in a local off-site recycling and recovery facility,

Ranama Resources Sdn Bhd which is private owned company in Plentong, Johor.

This off-site premise has its own storage, treatment and recovery facility completed

with closed-loop wastewater treatment plant. Therefore, this facility high demand in


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receiving different types of wastes such as plastic and steel drums, rags, filters,

solvents, discarded paint, for recycling and recovery from industrial and commercial

businesses surrounding regions throughout Peninsular Malaysia. In this study, the

limitation of the wastes that has been studied is only part of the types of waste that

the facility received only which are used plastic and steel drums both with open and

close top with capacity of 44 gallon, IBC of 1000 L and rags/filters.

The study of regulatory compliance of the studied facility is only covered of

three major parts of environments which are water quality, air quality and noise

level. The assessment of water quality then is checked with the compliance with

associated standard namely Water Quality Index and Environmental Quality

(Sewerage and Industrial Effluents) Regulations 1979. Thus, the parameters of water

quality that considered are temperature, pH, Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical

Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Ammonia Nitrogen

(NH3-N) and Suspended Solid (SS).

Meanwhile, for the assessment of air quality of the studied facility is verified

with Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations, 1978. The parameters of air

quality are measured in order to fulfill the regulatory are Total Suspended

Particulates (TSP), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and also Carbon

Monoxide (CO). Finally, the noise level also been assessed in the studied facility

which is checked with its compliance to The Planning Guidelines for Environmental

Noise Limits and Control (Maximum Permissible Sound Level of Receiving Land

Use for Planning and New Development (DOE, 2004). The parameter of the noise

level is measured in the decibel (dB) within the boundary of the studied facility.

1.5 Significance of Study

This recycling and recovery facility has been very helpful to environment in

minimizing the rising amount of scheduled wastes. Thus, the process of how the of

used drums, containers and rags/filters is studied to understand more about raw waste

minimizing in the studied facility. Hence, the products and wastes generated during


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the process can be identified. Besides that, the impacts of the operations involve

recycling the wastes of the studied facility to the surrounding environment can be

investigated. Therefore, this study benefits the owner of this studied facility to

improve the facility for environment and safer place to work.

In evaluating the products and wastes produce in recycling the drums,

containers and rags/filters are to find out the effectiveness of the studied facility in

minimizing wastes. This study will help the owner to alter the facility operation in

aiming for producing zero wastes. Besides that, the operations of recycling wastes

may emit pollutions. Hence, this research is an advantage to the owner about the

knowledge of the facility impacts to environment. Moreover, it also benefits to the

residents to provide safer environment. It also can be helpful to the owner to

upgrading its operating machineries to implementing zero pollution emitting.

the study of waste minimization

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