SECTION A. Based on the field trip to the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfills, write an essay on how smart companies could use environmental strategy to innovate, create value, and build competitive advantage.
Figure 1 : Overall view view of Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill from the top. Everyday, when the garbage truck passes by our houses, most of us would hold our breath. This is due to the rubbish is too smelly and all of us will unlike that situation. But did we know, where actually the trucks delivers the rubbish to?. As we know the amount of domestic waste that are generated every day is expected to increase at 2%, but our landfills have a definite life span and land is running in scarce. Did we know how the professionals manage the solid waste?. The importance to implement landfill operational controls, because it will influence the significance of the water content of the waste as received and it's influence on tropical rainfall patterns.
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Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill (BTSL) is a project under Malaysia Local Government and Housing Ministry. It is operated by KUB-Berjaya Enviro
Sdn. Bhd. (KBE), that is a joint
venture of KUB Malaysia and Berjaya Group. My friends and I as Semester five Human Resources Students with my lecturer went to Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill which held on 29 April 2014. BTSL aims to provide environmental solutions consist of solid waste management and be the pioneer of the green technology. KBE has been running the 1,700 acre Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill since 2005, which is the largest and most advanced landfill in Malaysia. It is located at the Hulu Selangor and Kuala Lumpur region. The landfill is receiving 2,800 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. After we arrive at the entrance of the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill (BTSL) we were welcomed with person in charge with the interesting presentation . Through the presentation we have learned and introduce about BTSL. BTSL is known as the premier sanitary landfill in Malaysia which developed by KUB Berjaya Enviro Sdn. Bhd. Whereby to provide, safe, efficient, environmentally friendly solid waste management solution. It is capable of providing over 50 years and above solution for solid waste and not toxic management solution. BTSL is the first in Malaysia which comprise of 700-acre with an additional 1000-acre buffer zone. It is designed is a fully engineered Level four landfills, which provide the maximum protection to the environment. This level provides the maximum protection of the environment which full HDPE membrane liner, leachate treatment system which is fully automated b y SCADA system. Once presentation finished, we were guided to the power generator which run the methane gas that was collected from the landfill area. BTSL has developed two gas flares to treat the landfill gas and now it is operating 1.2 megawatt gas engine to generate electricity from methane gas. BTSL also has implemented Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement with TNB to supply green energy to the to the national grid that able for 21 years. After we visit the power generator, we continue to visit the landfill area. The view was well organized and it has changed our perspective of the landfill that which usually unorganized with an unpleasant smell. After the waste is disposed in the designated tipping platform, which there are specialized compactors. It is used for daily application of daily earth cover to maintain maximum air capacity, hygiene and the most important is to prevent odour.
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Our next visit was on the leachate management and treatment plant. The leachate treatment plant that was fully automated by SCADA system which control of all the valves and pumps, and enabling the plant to operate automatically. The leachate treatment plant comprise 4 sequential batch reactor (SBR) lagoons, 24 aerators, chemical storage and dosing system, balancing tanks, sludge thickener and dissolved air flotation (DOF) plant. Lechate undergoes a biological process for 24 hours, it was transferred to the DOF plant to remove any residue. Then, treated leachate will convey to the reed beds which consist of Phragmites plant capable of absorbing residues in the treated leachate to improve its quality. After that the residue from the DOF plant is transferred to the sludge thickener and undergoes dewatering before it was transferred to the landfill. Lastly, the treated effluent undergoes last stages of manual checking before it irrigated in a 120-acre field. 4 leachate holding-ponds on site provide 180,000 cubic meters leachate storage capacity to attenuate peak flows during wet seasons ad the holding ponds also provide leachate storage when the leachate treatment plant is undergoing maintenance From my observation, The company is smart by using environmental strategy, since it is located far from the housing area. It is located 50 km north of Kuala Lumpur, it is one of the large scale, modern. It is situated in Ulu Selangor, The BukitTagar Landfill occupies a total land area of 1700 acres. The company is smart because this location is isolated location of the site and separation from the region of the importants groundwater aquifers. It also have combined with the application of top-class landfill engineering. This implementation by the company have ensured that the local environment is safe from the pollution that came from the garbage site. Other than that, the company have plan the environmental strategy by making sure it can be used in the long-term capacity of 120 million metric tonnes of air spaces. This facility is sufficient capacity to service the projected total municipal solid waste to be generated in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor over the next 50 years abd above. This will ensure that, in the 50 years forward our environmental site still will be used in the long term and our environment will be preserved. The Bukit Tagar have also involved in the intensive fast-track program of planning, design and construction. It is aimed to provide a long-term solution that supports the Government of Malaysia objective in waste recovery, recycling, re-use and waste recovery. This is one of the best implementations of the company to preserve our environment since it will 3
reduce deforestation and cutting trees. In the 2004, Consult Sdn Bhd was engaged by the developer, KUB Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd, to design, plan and supervise the development of the Bukit Tagar waste disposal facility. This is according to the objective to overcome the problem associates with the closure existing landfills at the Taman Beringin in Kepong and Air Hitam Puchong. The facility was successfully developed on a fast track programme to be operational within a six-month period whilst fully satisfying the requirements of the Department of Environment (DOE) and the received its first load of waste on 1 April 2005 and now handles some 3,000 tonnes of waste per day. In terms of to preserve the international interest in turn of reflecting the national interest, health and safety of the regional community, this company has culminated in the construction of a world class sanitary landfill which represents the very best in the construction of the world class sanitary landfill which represents the very best in the private-public sector cooperation. The company has achieved the highest environmental standards in the related waste management system, since the landfills have also a demonstrably world class in all aspects. There is a 500m buffer zone that ensures the landfill isolation and natural topography provides the barrier to visual observation, odour and noise. This company can create the competitive advantage since its location is close to the North-South Highway. The competitive advntage of this , it can reduce the traffic impacts over those from the former landfills and at the same time it will ensured that the facility represents a new standard in environmental protection. Other than that Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill amongst its innovative engineering achievement is T&T Konsult’s involvement in the design, construction and operation of the largest leachate treatment plant in South East Asia. The size is equivalent in the size of the previous largest leachate treatment plant in situated in Hong Kong. The plant is fully automated with sophisticated SCADA control systems where the operator intervention requirements are minimized. The leachate treatment process involves to treat locate to achieve a zero discharge of the treated leachate from the site. The capacity of this plant is 1,000 m3/day and has been designed and developed to allow modular expansion up to 3,000 m3 /day.
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Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill management also guaranteeing that there will be no leachate can be discharged from the site without the detection and treatment. The process includes extensive reed beds polishing and land irrigation of treated leachate and the storage ponds, aeration ponds and the treatment plant h ave been provided with comprehensive secondary containment and monitoring system. From this treatment process the environment cleanliness can be preserve since there will no pollution especially for the ponds and river. We can see three treatment for the leachate water and the third treatment will make the water is pure and clean from other substances and It is also safe for drinks. Leachate at the landfill is carefully drained and channelled to the computerized leachate treatment plant that runs on a 24-hour cycle. This produces treated leachate that is further purified by reed beds, leaving behind clear water that is dispersed through an extensive sprinkler system on-site.
Figure 2 : Leachate waste management and treatment. This landfill also is designed to receive mix of non-hazardous commercial domestic and inert water. It is situate in the hot tropical climate and receives some 3m of rainfall annually. Monthly rainfall typically ranges from 150-360 mm, with no distinct monsoon season. The landfill and the collected operational practices are very important in determining the leachate 5
produced. The company implement good surface water control during operation of the landfill, which it includes the minimizing the area of the working face, diversion of clean storm water away from the working face and also timely, appropriate use of daily cover soil, are the critical management methods need to minimize the quantity of leachate produced at a landfill site. The Bukit Tagar facility has set the new standards in meeting the environmental requirements, landfill design and international design standards. It is also can be observed that the company is successfully demonstrated that the leachate can be treated and managed even in the tropical zones with the high annual rainfall and intensities.
Figure 3 : Bukit Tagar Renewable Energy Centre The best that I found, what is the special about this solid waste management at BTSL is about how they use the residue n substances produce from rubbish, converted it into the usable to our society and country that is in terms of electricity. The methane or biogas that generated from the landfill is channeled to the gas engines to generate electricity.
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This engine generates
electricity for the national grid under the Feed-in Tariff scheme in Malaysia. The company used the methane at the site to generate 4MW and up to 10MW. The company was sold to TNB and fed to the National grid. As I mention earlier, based on my field trip, BTSL has developed two gas flares to treat the landfill gas and now it is operating 1.2 megawatt gas engine to generate electricity from methane gas. BTSL also has implemented Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement with TNB to supply green energy to the to the national grid. We were able for 21 years. We were able to see the bluish-purple flame inside the gas flares. Other than that, KBE also explores the use of solar power by installing solar panels on top of the filled landfill cells. The special about the BTSL landfill, it has the most Certified Emission Reduction or carbon credits issued for a landfill project in Southeast Asia under the UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) scheme based on the Kyoto Protocol. As we know that this solar power use in the BTSL, so it can create the competitive advantages as compared to the other rivals. Based on my overall observation, BTSL has created its own name and has given many positive contributions to the local environment. BTSL is the premier sanitary landfill in the region by providing safe, efficient and environmentally friendly solid waste management solution. BTSL also have won the award that recognizes the efforts of KBE in operating the environmentally sound landfill. KUB Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd (KBE) the operator of the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill was recently named the winner of CDL Outstanding Singapore Environmental Achievement Award, which was organized by the Singapore Environment Council. As we know that BTSL has been running since 2005, which is the advance and the largest landfill in Malaysia According to the newspaper articles, The Star online KUB-Berjaya Enviro Bhd managing director Chock Eng Tah, He said that the company manages the site at current rates of disposal, the landfill should be good for another 70 years. As we know a sanitary landfill are different from other s as it is no mauntains of rubbish, but it is manage by careful engineering to ensure the leachate, liquid that has gone through the waste and contains all kinds of toxins, that is carefully drained and treated.
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BTSL have successfully created system where rainwater does not mix with leachate and next will runs into stormwater ponds where there are fish and plants. Otherwise, there are other sanitary landfill in Selangor such as Tanjung Dua Belas in Kuala Langat and Jeram in Kuala Selangor which both are operated by Worldwide Holdings Bhd but it still the premier sanitary landfill in the region that providing safe, efficient and environmentally friendly solid waste management solution. Currently this sanitary landfills have a tipping fee of between RM28.80 and RM 50 per tonne which is one of the cheapest in the world. It is cheapest compared to other like Germany charges between RM1000 and 1400, China RM60 and RM75, Australia RM215. We can side ee that BTSL is one of the cheapest in the world and provide the best services. For the environmental monitoring, The surface water and groundwater quality monitoring tests are carried out monthly at BTSL that is pH, ammonia, e-coli, suspended solids and trace metals are among the major parameters tested. The air quality and noise levels are also monitored quarterly for submission to the Department of Environment in the Quarterly Environment Monitoring Report. For the emergency containment system, BTSL is equipped with an emergency response system and leachate containment bund to prevent accidental leachate breakout into external watercourses. Leachate is held within the bund to enable remedial works to be undertaken. This safety measure surpasses the requirement of the Department of Environment, and components such as continuous flow meter at monitoring bund, detention dam for upper catchment and containmment bund at leachate treatment plant and holding . Last but not the least, I can conclude that Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill is one of the good examples of how sanitary landfills should be planned and manage especially in Asia Country. It has provided the best leachate management and treatment, tapping on the biogas generated for the electricity. This wastage management should be as an example for the forward future of landfills in Asia, as compared to the commonly seen open dumps and unsanitary landfills with no proper management and treatment p rocesses.
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Figure 4 : The group photo.
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SECTION B. As vast opportunities for Eco-advantages are, successfully exploiting them is not easy. Describe the reasons for environmental failure.
In assigning responsibility for environmental failure, there should not only certain party only need to take the responsibility. Each party should take part in preserving our environment and earth. Why environmental failure always occurs is mainly because of lack of people or society concern on the environment issue.
For example nowadays there is climate change
problem adversely due to the human activities that cause environmental failure. Based on the Drill Baby Drill said that environmentalism can not be separated from economics.
Economies will be affected if our environmental become worse. What are the
reasons behind this issue?. From my opinion, one of the reasons that leads to environmental failure are because there are certain company use system that focuses on the optimizing production only without taking care for our environment. The system that only sees profit and productivity may drive for the lost of control for taking care our mother nature. This will increasingly lead to consequence of out of control activities. The ompany will do anything to get the profit such as deforestation and other activities that harm our environment and largely will contribute to the environmental problem. Other than that, maybe there are lower understanding towards that natural system. For example, what is the ecosystem and how human activities can harm the ecosystem and environment. The company should do the right activities that are free from wastage that can contaminate our river water and air. The company needs to analyze first whether their activities will affect the environment. Maybe there are less implementation because our government not too strict regarding this area. Less awareness towards this issues will harm our environment. Ironically, perhaps to understand why environmental movement has failed, we need go back to the basic value of the early environmental movement that has been forgotten or, out of political correctness that have been put aside. May be people should review and more concern about our basic values to appreciate our environment. People can get again to remember the Earth Day by Gaylord Nelson. But
as the society we does not have to appreciate our
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environment just only during selected days because there are very crucial for every individual have the awareness to preserve and conserve our environment. In addition, lacking of access to the reading sources according to the environmental failure is one of the factors. They does not have intention to read about our environment but only access another issues like sports and politics. This will show the inconsistency of the information gathered especially about the current environmental issues. If they access to the current environment issue such as the global warming, the species extinction and other environmental problem so that they will be more alert and find ways to minimize the risks of environmental failure from happen. Next factors that may lead to the environmental failure is the over consumption along the population explotion as the cause of the enviromnmental degration. To over simplify , over consumption from the population of peoples nowadays that is comes from their lifestyle can cause the environmental failure. As nowadays there are various technologies that comfort peoples lifestyle and convenience, but it is not good for our environment and can cause environmental failure. For example, due to people lifestyle nowadays by using the air conditioner can comfort their self but there are adverse effect that will harm our environment such as the thinning of ozone layer. If peoples nowadays have awareness, they should minimize the usage of technologies or changes their lifestyle. Somestimes they need to think about the effect in the next 10 or 15 years or can be said as the long term effect. People should let go their their egos and start thinking for the long term effects. As we know that the baby boomers is the last generation that either member living on farm or had parents and grandparents that lived on a farm. This gave the connection for them with the land even after they moved to the big cities. The awareness of the generation X towards mother nature is higher than the generation Y. This is due to their life in the big cities. Parents should provide the environmental information to their children. This will make our younger generation would be more alert and drive them to be the person with the attitude towards the environment.
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People need to organize a new kind of movement that will actually begin to slow and ultimately reverse environmental degradation. As things stand, the term environmentalism is probably inadequate. Within the field of environmentalism alone, there are a variety of issues which are currently in competition such as deforestation, air and water quality are among environmental. As are the development issues economic policy, industrial practices, energy sources, built environment, trade, population and resulting lack of coordination or wholeness contributes to confusion. General Plans are often comprised of elements that include of infrastructure, economic development, land use, housing, circulation, conservation, parks and recreation open space, health policy, transportation, scenic routes, air quality, arts and culture, design, noise, safety, historic preservation and among others and the law usually requires that there be internal consistency between elements. Beyond local planning lies regional plans. When preparing or revising a general plan, cities and counties should carefully analyze the implications of regional plans for their planning area. General Plans are required to include an analysis of the extent to which the general plans policies, standards, and proposals are consistent with regional plans that will provide the legal basis for allocating state and federal funds, as in the case of transportation and water quality facilities. Other regional plans, such as air quality plans, spell out measures which local governments may institute in order for the region to meet state and federal standards to make sure our environment will be preserved. So planning tools exist is very important though still very inadequate, to promote sustainable development within given parts of the earths surface.. I really believe that, everyone can comprehend why land-area plans everywhere should be relatively integrated. The international community must reaching for the big global picture, that everyone can grasp the best way to implement it. For me, Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill is the one of the best example on how company needs to take steps in preserving our environment and to maintain the integrity of the environment. BTSL that operated by KUB-Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd (KBE), a joint-venture of KUB Malaysia and Berjaya Group aim to provide environmental solutions consist of solid waste management and to be the pioneer of the development of green energy technology should
be praised as the successful company that implement the right steps in
preserve the environment. 12
REFERENCE
Bukit
Tagar
Sanitary
Landfill
webpage,
http://www.kbenviro.com.my/landfill-
management.php#&panel1-2
Why the global environmental movement is failing, http://theconversation.com/why-the-globalenvironmental-movement-is-failing-7819
David Suzuki Foundation, Solution In Our Nature, http://www. David Suzuki.org/blogs/sciencematters/2012/05/the-fundamental-failure-of-environmentalism.
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