Landfills in ASEAN Countries

Image source: Bataan sanitary landfill

Since waste is continually generated from households, offices, markets, industries, and places where people are present, the need for disposal sites is substantial. Depending on the policies and development systems of each country, waste is treated in various ways, including open dumpsites, landfilling, and incineration. Treatment choice depends on factors such as waste types, environmental considerations, regulations, and a growing emphasis on sustainable waste management practices. (1)

The US. Environmental Protection Agency (US. EPA) defines an open dumpsite as an illicit disposal site where solid waste is carelessly discarded, posing potential threats to human well-being and the environment. Although open dumpsites might offer a seemingly inexpensive solution for waste disposal, they come with many significant disadvantages. These drawbacks include the creation of health hazards due to the proliferation of insects and rodents, the potential for damage stemming from air pollution, and the introduction of pollutants into groundwater and runoff systems. (2)

A landfill refers to the disposal of waste materials on the ground. This practice has been known by different terms over the years, including ‘tips’ in the UK, ‘sanitary landfill’ in the USA, ‘coups’ in Scotland, ‘controlled tipping’ in the UK, and ‘dumps’ worldwide. (3)

Landfills can generally be categorized into three groups: Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, Industrial Waste Landfills, and Hazardous Waste Landfills. Municipal Solid Waste Landfills are designed to receive household and non-hazardous wastes. Industrial Waste Landfills are designed to collect commercial and institutional waste (i.e., industrial waste). Hazardous Waste Landfills are facilities explicitly used for the disposal of hazardous waste. (1)

A secure landfill typically has four essential components: a bottom liner, a leachate collection system, a cover, and naturally occurring hydrogeological conditions. Choosing a suitable natural setting aims to reduce the risk of waste materials seeping into the groundwater beneath the landfill. At the same time, the remaining three components require engineering and design. (4) Typical landfill operations involve using machinery, managing waste placement, compaction, daily covering, road construction, safety, waste monitoring, and stormwater management. (5)

A landfill is cost-effective and can store waste long-term but poses environmental risks. Landfill gas, leachate and loose waste are the main environmental concerns associated with the landfill. If not managed correctly, landfill gas can cause odors, contribute to climate change, and potentially pose an explosion and/or asphyxiation risks if methane or carbon dioxide concentrations build up in enclosed spaces. If leachate is not adequately contained and removed from the landfill, it can leak into the groundwater and cause contamination. Loose waste attracts disease-carrying vermin of all types and can fly away in the breeze. (6)

Sanitary landfills and open dumps are the predominant form of waste management, especially in the least developed countries, although there are large differences across countries. A summary report by UN Environment (2017) indicated that open dumping and open burning of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is mainly practiced in ASEN countries, where the recycling rate is less than 50%. This is related to the fact that ASEAN countries have limited experience in composting and incineration.  (7)

There are numerous landfills within the ASEAN countries, and the numbers can vary significantly based on the geographical area and the various types and systems of landfills. We can note the number of landfills operated within the ASEAN countries below from the open source.

Brunei – 6 landfills (8)

Cambodia- 213 landfills (9)

Indonesia- 532 landfills (10)

Laos – 130 landfills (open dump) (11)

Malaysia-165 landfills (12)

Myanmar-6 landfills (13)

Philippines- 245 landfills (14)

Singapore- 1 landfill (15)

Thailand-70 landfills (16)

Timor-1 landfill (17)

Vietnam-905 landfills (18)

We want to invite the reader to share with us more info about the operation of landfills within the ASEAN countries.

Ref:

1. epa.gov
2. https://www.gdrc.org/uem/waste/disposal.html
3. John F Crawford and Paul G Smith, 1985, “Landfill technology” book
4. https://www.ejnet.org/landfills/
5. Nicole D. Berge et al., 2018, Chapter 15.1 – Landfill Operation, Solid Waste Landfilling, Elsevier, Pages 845-866, ISBN 9780128183366,https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-407721-8.00040-1.
6. https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/household-waste/landfills/landfills-and-environment
7. UN Environment, 2017, “Waste Management in ASEAN Countries: A Summary Report”, retrieved online from https://www.unep.org/resources/report/waste-management-asean-countries-summary-report
8. Shams, R. H. M. Juani and Z. Guo, 2014, “Integrated and sustainable solid waste management for Brunei Darussalam,” 5th Brunei International Conference on Engineering and Technology (BICET 2014), Bandar Seri Begawan, , pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1049/cp.2014.1066.
9. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501141817/5000-tonnes-of-daily-waste-not-dumped-in landfills/#:~:text=There%20are%20213%20landfills%20across,%25%20and%2012%25%20per%20year. (August 31,2022)
10. https://en.antaranews.com/news/274617/how-indonesia-fighting-waste-crisis#:~:text=Meanwhile%2C%20the%20number%20of%20landfills,%2Dto%2Denergy%20management%20facilities.
11. Lao PDR. MONRE, 2021. Data Collection Survey on Waste Management Sector in The Lao People’s Democratic Republic, retrieved online from https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12345914.pdf
12. https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/malaysia-waste-management-solutions#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20National%20Solid,is%20done%20to%20reduce%20waste.
13. https://dlca.logcluster.org/37-myanmar-waste-management#:~:text=There%20are%20only%20six%20existing,township%20and%20Htawe%20Chaung%20township.
14. https://opinion.inquirer.net/164789/running-outof-landfills#ixzz8CVSDD4gZ
15. https://www.towardszerowaste.gov.sg/zero-waste-nation/
16. https://gepp.me/en/thailand-state-of-landfill/
17. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/42661/solid-waste-management-timor-leste.pdf
18. http://www.ngocenter.org.vn/nearly-80-landfill-sites-vietnam-pollute-environment-2020

By: Moe Thazin Shwe, SOLEN Principal Associate – IPC panel coordinator

Edited by: Hendra WINASTU, SOLEN Research Associate – IPC panel member

Date: 7 September 2023
Article#: SOLEN-IPC-0025

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