Assessing the impact of Covid-19 MCO on the municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in malaysia and its relationship with environmental effects and health risk

MUHAMAD TAMRIN, NURUL AZWA (2021) Assessing the impact of Covid-19 MCO on the municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in malaysia and its relationship with environmental effects and health risk. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Solid waste volume is expected to increase with the implementation of the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO). The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) indicate, more than 200,000 tonnes of domestic waste are expected to be generated each month. The importance of this study is to provide an insight of solid waste generation issues in Malaysia amid of COVID-19 pandemic. This study quantifies the environmental impact and health risk from solid waste generation in landfill process. Objective: To assess the potential impact of COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) towards the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation in Malaysia and its relationship with the environmental effects and health risk. Methodology: The study areas were the states adopted Act 672 in Peninsular Malaysia. The datasets of total solid waste (tonnes) were obtained from the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp). The mathematical models and statistical analysis were performed to analyse the data. The mathematical models from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT, 2015), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA, 1998; U.S. EPA, 2011) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2013) were used to measure the Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leachate production and health risk. Results and Discussion: A decreased trend of solid waste generation was observed from 2014 to 2020. The volume of domestic waste was the highest in Johor. There was a significant difference in the volume of solid waste generated before and during MCO in Quarter 2 (P < 0.05). In average, the amount of solid waste during MCO was lower (254,265.48 ± 185,323.51 t/yr) than before MCO (388,342.72 ± 303,995.89 t/yr). There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in GHG emission and leachate production during MCO. The estimated total methane (104,904.59 t/yr) and carbon dioxide equivalent (2,622,614.67 t/yr) emission has reduced significantly during MCO. The estimated leachate production has reduced from 536,571.87 m3/yr before MCO to 507,996.13 m3/yr during MCO. Meanwhile, xylenes contributed the highest NMVOC emission during MCO (9.70E-01 m3/yr). The carcinogenic risk and noncarcinogenic risk towards inhalation exposure to the selected NMVOC compounds were in acceptable limit with Hazard Quotient (HQ<1) and Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR<1.0E-04). Conclusion: The COVID-19 MCO has significantly reduced the municipal solid waste generation in the country. This has significantly reduced the impact to the environment in terms of greenhouse gases emission and leachate production as well as to the health risk. Keywords: COVID-19, Movement Control Order (MCO), solid waste, health risk, environmental impact

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Mr Hafizzuddin Hamidon
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2023 04:49
Last Modified:	24 Aug 2023 04:49
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/896

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