Waste disposal system and the law: sanitary landfill / Nor Baizura Mohd Saubian and Nur Sazila Abd Halim

In recent years as a result of urban population and industrial growth and an increase in the standard of living of the population resulting in an increase in quantity and variation in the types of waste generated in Malaysia. The increased environmental problem caused by open dumpsites must not be left unchecked; otherwise the people's health could be jeopardized. In order to protect the environment, as well as to address solid waste
problems, the sanitary landfill method was introduced to ensure a future of sustainable development. Sanitary Landfill is the most cost-effective method that control waste disposal and takes the public health and environment features into consideration. The
purpose of this research is to study the system of sanitary landfill as the main method of waste disposal system and related issue concerning sanitary landfill such as the impact of bad landfilling. Other than that, the problem concerning the ineffectiveness of regulations to enforce the proper management of waste will also be examined. Furthermore, the problem on the possibilities of conflict of interest between 3 important bodies that handle
waste management namely Federal government, state government and local authorities will be address to solved the question on which law should prevail since federal government provides the regulation and state government implement the regulations. Jeram Sanitary Landfill which is located at Kuala Selangor, Selangor has been chosen to carried out this research to identify the system of sanitary landfill and other issues related
to the operation of sanitary landfill. The comparison of the system of sanitary landfill between Malaysia, United Kingdom and United States were also discussed in this research. The recommendations have been made to solve any problem raised in the issue related to the management of waste in Malaysia.