We are trying to use our material resources efficiently and have implemented programmes in place to reduce the use of such resources since 2000. The vast majority of the materials were used to treat and convert hazardous waste generated by the industries into inert and less environmentally damaging waste.
MATERIALS CONSUMPTION
Cement, Sand, Lime, Caustic Soda And Chemicals
Apart from electricity and water, we also consume a lot of cement, sand, lime, caustic soda, nitrogen gas and a wide range of chemicals to provide our scheduled waste treatment services. These materials are consumed at our incineration plant, solidification plant, physical-chemical treatment plant and also our leachate treatment plant.
Besides that, WMC also consumes a significant amount of diesel especially for incineration plant where diesel is used as burning fuel for the incinerator. However since 2004, we have explored options to use waste oil or reconstituted oil to replace diesel as burning fuel and finally in 2005 we invested RM 1.2 million to upgrade our main incinerator to run on reconstituted oil. This new burner system can run on 100% diesel, 100% fuel from waste and can run on mix proportion between those two. The major savings achieved from the new burner project is that it uses actual liquid energetic waste from waste generators as a fuel rather than the normal diesel and reconstituted oil, representing savings both financially and environmentally.
Energy
In recognition of the necessity to increase energy efficiency and to minimise energy loss, Kualiti Alam has been using a heat recovery system in the incineration plant since being operational. The heat recovery system provides energy to our stack exhaust fan.
Water
We operate Malaysia’s first leachate treatment plant (LTP) with state-of-the-art technology. The leachate is treated and recirculated in the LTP without any discharges into the waterways. The installation of the LTP not only enabled us to save significant amount of water used for scheduled waste treatment, but more importantly, helps us to conserve natural resources. In our continuous effort to reduce our site water usage, we developed a stormwater collection and treatment system in 2005. In this, we were able to use treated stormwater at our various treatment facilities to significantly reduce our water usage at the WMC.
Biodiversity Monitoring
Our concern for the environment extends beyond the borders of our site at the WMC. Although, not known to be biodiversity rich, we were determined to ascertain the biodiversity status of the area for our knowledge. In November and December 2005, we undertook a terrestrial fauna and avifauna study around the WMC. The study conducted research to determine the diversity of the various species of birds, mammals, snakes and insects. The findings identified with 2 areas rich in species diversity, where a total of 59 species from 31 families of avifauna were observed. We also found a protected species of butterfly, the Birdwing Butterfly (Troides Helena Cerberus), as well as the observation of a leopard cat at one of the monitoring station. Arising from this study, we will be continuing our biodiversity study to ensure the continued monitoring and preservation of these precious animals.
Greenhouse Gases
As we are a moderately energy intensive company dealing and treating scheduled wastes, we try to manage our greenhouse gas emissions. We progressively implement energy-efficient and alternative-energy programmes voluntarily despite the costs. Our total greenhouse gas emissions in CO2 equivalent has increased since 1999 due to our expansion projects undertaken to provide more and better treatment options to our clients coupled with influx of higher demand for our treatment services.
Air emissions
We have established a number of monitoring stations for ambient air and also emissions from our plant stacks. We monitor air emissions from our incineration plant, solidification plant, physical-chemical plant, containerised mini incinerators and also the ambient air. Each air monitoring site monitors total suspended particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and a number of other parameters. For our stack monitoring stations, we monitor a number of hazardous gaseous substances that may be the result from the incineration of scheduled waste that we handle. This includes dioxin and furans.
Water Monitoring
Our water monitoring programme encompasses surface water, ground water and effluent monitoring with a number of monitoring stations placed at strategic location to detect any incidences of pollution from our activities. At WMC, we only discharge sewage effluents. Other effluents arising from the treatment of scheduled waste are not discharge from our facilities but are treated in Malaysia’s most advanced leachate treatment plant that was commissioned in 2001. The leachate is treated and recirculated in the leachate treatment plant where state-of-the-art technology and monitoring programmes were implemented.
