Municipal Solid Waste Knowledge Platform

The objective of this activity was to upscale organic waste diversion upstream targeting food waste separation from roadside hawker stalls, restaurants, and hotels in the UNESCO World Heritage George Town inner city on selected main streets (especially those which have night hawking) for a pilot project. 

This activity included a feasibility study for diverting organic waste from the landfill through efficient recourse recovery of both recyclables and organic materials as a usable product through the implementation of environmentally sustainable technologies, along with other complementary sub-activities such as a waste characterization study and a technical training in Japan.

The activity also included a training to train on technology operation and maintenance, including environmental impact, engineering design and business models in Japan. This sub-activity supported the landfill operators of the Pulau Burong landfill to design their business plan incorporating key elements including technology localization and appropriate specifications.

The amount of solid waste has been increasing by rapid population growth, improved technology, economic development and changing consumption habits. According to UNDP SWM Study Report 2007, the total organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) from both councils (Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai) comprises 71% of the total municipal solid waste in Penang. Rapid biodegradation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste is of key importance to identify environmentally more responsible ways to process it rather than landfilling. Therefore, there is a need to apply other environmentally sound technologies before the desired result can be achieved.  

In diverting the organic waste fraction of municipal solid waste from landfills in Penang, anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting are recommended to be the most appropriate alternatives for treating the waste stream since AD results in two valuable products, biogas and compost that may be utilised for electricity production and as soil fertilizers respectively while composting produce nutrient rich compost. 

This report describes the two technologies. 

The report was done by Khor Hung Teik, under contract to UN Environment International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

The purpose of these reports is to arrive at a policy for organic waste (including food waste) for the state of Penang. 

The reports were done by Khor Hung Teik, under contract to UN Environment International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

The UN Environment Programme, in close cooperation with other partners, compiled a report of best practices on organic waste management to consolidate the various experiences covering major aspects including policies, technologies, financing, and private sector participation. 

The report was done by Khor Hung Teik, under contract to UN Environment International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

The World Bank designed an Output-based Program to Incentivize Solid Waste Separation in Penang.

The report was supported by UN Environment International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.