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.

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.

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.