SMHB Sdn Bhd Sanitary Landfill at Tg.

Duabelas, Kuala Langat

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ES-1 INTRODUCTION

There are a total of about 230 landfills in Malaysia, however only a few can be
categorised as being sanitary landfills, most are essentially dump sites for municipal solid
wastes. Sanitary landfills are properly planned and engineered sites incorporated with
pollution control technologies and proper infrastructure, usually integrated with facilities
for storage, collection, transportation and processing before final disposal of the waste at
the sanitary landfills.

The Selangor State Government has awarded the concession to Worldwide Holdings
Berhad (WHB) to develop a sanitary landfill facility in Mukim Tg. Duabelas in the
District of Kuala Langat, Selangor Darul Ehsan to cater for municipal solid waste
collected mainly from the waste catchment areas in Southern Selangor particularly from
the districts of Sepang, Kuala Langat as well as Putrajaya.

The proposed Kuala Langat sanitary landfill is expected to receive about 1,000 t/day and
will form part of the Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS) for the State of
Selangor and the Klang Valley. The proposed Kuala Langat sanitary landfill will help to
resolve the need for proper landfill sites due to increasing waste generation within
Selangor with the closure of the Air Hitam Landfill as well as future closure of Sg. Sedu
(Banting) and Ampar Tenang (Dengkil) dumpsites. The proposed sanitary landfill will
also redress the environmental degradation problems associated with indiscriminate solid
waste disposal.

ES-2 DEIA REQUIREMENT

The construction and operation of the Sanitary Landfill and its associated works in the
District of Kuala Langat is a Prescribed Activity under item 18 (b)(iv): Waste Treatment
and Disposal (Municipal Solid Waste: Construction of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
Facility) of the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact
Assessment) Order 1987, in the Environmental Quality Act 1974. A Detailed
Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) is mandatory for the proposed project and the
report is to be submitted to the Department of Environment (DOE) for approval.

ES-3 STATEMENT OF NEED

The rapid development in the State of Selangor and in Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
is expected to accelerate the generation of solid waste which requires proper disposal. A
proper sanitary landfill is important as it ensures that the wastes are appropriately
disposed of without any compromise to the environment and public health.

Presently, the disposal of municipal solid wastes (MSW) into dumpsites in the region is
posing some threat to the environment as well as to the general health of the communities
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residing near these dumpsites. Among the problems encountered are leachate
contamination of the receiving streams and groundwater, bad odour, proliferation of flies
and other pests that may lead to public health issues, increase in the number of
scavenging birds and fire hazards through improper management of methane gas.

An engineered sanitary landfill in Mukim Tanjung Duabelas, District of Kuala Langat is

needed for the following reasons:

• In line with the Selangor State Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS) and
commitment to protect the environment, safeguard public health and provide high
quality of life to the local population.
• To cater to the increasing volume of wastes from the Southern region of Selangor and
Putrajaya
• Replacement of aging dump sites at Sg. Sedu and Ampar Tenang and closure of the
Air Hitam Landfill and Taman Beringin Landfill.
• To ensure that wastes are appropriately disposed without compromise to the
environment and health.
• To reduce or even eliminate problems normally encountered in unsanitary landfill or
dumpsites.

ES-4 PROJECT OPTIONS

The proposed landfill site at Mukim Tg. Duabelas has been predetermined by the
Selangor State Government and hence the consideration of alternative sites for the
proposed sanitary landfill will not be discussed in this present study. Although sanitary
landfilling is the preferred waste disposal option, alternative means for waste disposal
such as incineration, composting and waste recycling have been considered before these
options were ruled out. Brief descriptions of each waste disposal option are provided
below:

Sanitary Landfill
The sanitary landfill method is recommended as it will satisfy the concept of “best
available technology not entailing excessive cost”. In essence, landfilling technology
involves the following:-

• only permissible contents of waste will be landfilled;

• controlled placement and adequate compaction of waste;
• prevention of leachate contaminating soil, surface and groundwater;
• management of landfill gas to reduce greenhouse effect;
• systematic environmental monitoring and control facilities; and
• proper closure and aftercare.

Sanitary landfilling is the most favourable method for Malaysia where land scarcity is not
a major issue. Over the years, landfilling technology has improved significantly to
minimize impacts on public health and the environment. The landfilling method has been
practised successfully in many developed countries as being the most economical and
environmentally acceptable method for the disposal of municipal solid wastes.

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Incinerators
Incineration would be the next option when suitable landfill sites become unavailable or
when land costs become prohibitive. The main purpose of incineration is volume
reduction, so that only a fraction of the daily wastes will be sent for final landfilling. The
major disadvantage of incineration is the high capital cost which could be 10 times the
cost of sanitary landfills, and also high operational costs. There is also concern on the
possible release of toxic gaseous emissions and particulate matter such as dioxin and
furans which have been found to be carcinogenic, and therefore incineration systems
require careful design considerations and proper air pollution control equipment. In view
of the above, incineration has not been considered further.

Composting
Composting is a method used to reduce some of the organic portion of municipal solid
waste. Although composting is seen as having good potential for waste reduction, a key
issue lies in the need to pre-sort the waste materials in order to produce compost of
acceptable grade. The composting processes also generate odour issues and may
introduce harmful substances to soils if the waste contents are not acceptable. In order to
mimimise the impact of odour, composting facilities should be located in fairly remote
areas. As such, there will be the added burden of transporting the organic waste to the
composting facility. Composting also requires a relatively large land area.

Although technologies for composting have been available for many years, currently,
there are only very few composting plants around the world which are economically
successful. The major drawbacks commonly experienced are the high cost for waste
collection and separation, low value of the compost products and presence of plastic and
glass in composted material. In view of these, composting is not presently recommended
in this project.

Recycling
The fundamental issues related to waste recycling includes the separation of waste
materials to recover the reusable and recyclable materials, the identification of market for
the recovered materials and the specification of the recovered materials in terms of
homogeneity and free of contamination. When stricter specifications are imposed, the cost
incurred for sorting and collection systems to be implemented will be higher and hence
recycling may not be cost effective.

The type of waste to be recovered depends on the demand and potential uses of the
recovered materials. This is limited to materials that currently have a high commercial
value such as aluminium, paper and cardboard, plastics, glass, and ferrous metal and for
which recycling technologies are already available. The decision to undertake recycling
operations on a large scale would be heavily influenced by the communities that are
served. If there are insufficient recyclable materials available or generated, it may not be
viable to invest in a central material recovery and processing facility as such facilities are
costly to set up and to operate. Recycling although recommended on small scale, is not
considered a full waste disposal option.

The “No Project” Option

The ‘no-project’ option would mean that the proposed sanitary landfill would not be
constructed and the land is left in its current state and agriculture activities will continue
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at the proposed site. There would be no changes to the physical, biological or socio-
economic status of the land. With the no-project option there will be a need to find other
potential sites in Selangor and it is anticipated that the lifespan of some open dump areas
within the state of Selangor would need to be extended. This also means that the
environment would continue to be contaminated by the infiltration of leachate from the
dump sites into the surrounding surface and groundwater, and harmful gases would
continue to be released uncontrolled posing a hazard to the public and the environment.
Therefore, the ‘no-project’ option is not an acceptable long-term solution and an
alternative landfill site must be identified for the sake of future solid waste management
in southern Selangor.

ES-5 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Design Criteria

(a) Size of the Sanitary Landfill: 64.7 ha (160 acres)

(b) Receiving tonnage: Approximately 1000 tonnes/day of municipal solid waste
(c) Lifespan of the Landfill: approximately 25 years
(d) Phases of Development: In 6 phases
(e) Landfill Dimension: 852 m x 712m
(f) Operating Hours: 6 days/week from 0800-1800 hours with limited operating
hours on Sundays and Public Holidays. Internal operating hours for daily soil
cover shall extend to about 2000 hours.
(g) Types of Waste: All municipal waste collected from residential, commercial,
industrial (non-scheduled waste), governmental or institutional agencies, and
community areas (markets and community centres), garden and bulky waste
(furniture, electrical appliances, etc). Wastes that may cause immediate danger to
the operational personnel and the environment such as scheduled wastes (toxic or
hazardous), explosives, burning or smouldering waste and bio-chemical waste
will not be accepted in the sanitary landfill.
(h) Environmental Protection Measures included in the design:-
• Protection of surface water through stormwater drainage system and leachate
collection and treatment system.
• Protection of groundwater through liner system and leachate treatment
system.
• Protection of air quality and public safety through gas collection and
treatment system.
• Provision for daily soil cover.
• Provision of safety factors in the design of the waste layers to reduce slope
instability
(i) Access to the Landfill Site: The main access to the sanitary landfill is via KLIA-
Banting (Exit B20) main road.
(j) Effluent Discharge Standards: The treated leachate effluent from the leachate
treatment plant shall meet the Leachate Quality Discharge Standards.

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Landfill Development

The major infrastructure components of the sanitary landfill design are as follows:

• Waste Reception and Administration Areas

• Leachate Treatment Facility
• Landfill Gas Treatment Facility
• Site Access Road
• Fencing and Gates
• Sewerage system

The Sanitary Landfill will be sequentially developed in 6 phases over a period of 25

years. A composite liner system will be used comprising of two (2) layers: a
geomembrane layer underlain by a geotextile reinforcement layer. These two layers used
in combination provide an extremely low permeability through the thin polymeric sheet
material with the added protection of the thicker soil layer material.

Capping of the waste is done in two forms, a daily soil cover of 300mm and the final
cover which involves the entire area of the waste reception cells. Final capping system
will be designed to reduce rainwater infiltration to minimise leachate generation within
the waste mass. Vegetative growth will provide a barrier between the waste and the
environment.

Landfill Operation

The management and operations at the landfill will involve reception of transported
wastes, inspection of wastes, weighing of waste trucks, tipping activities, spreading and
compacting, mixing and covering the wastes with cover material. A successful operation
of the landfilling activities will depend on the following factors:

• Appropriate types of equipment and heavy machineries to be used in the landfilling

operation;
• Operation of the landfill activities according to the planned schedule;
• Proper record keeping of waste volumes delivered to the landfill;
• Inspection of waste loads to reject any wastes containing hazardous, toxic or
flammable materials;
• Monitoring of waste tipping operation in the active landfilling cell and proper to
compaction of waste;
• Adequate soil cover to minimize risk of fire, emission of landfill gas, suppressing site
odour, reducing pest and vermin and decreasing litter generation;
• Aesthetic consideration in the landfill and site cleanliness;
• Proper maintenance of the internal and access roads.

The operating hours of the landfill will generally be daily from 8 am to 6 pm but may
change depending on the volume of waste as well as other local requirements.

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Landfill Closure

The landfill will be properly closed after all the cells are filled. The components in the
closure plan of the landfill are as follows:

• Final cover design/capping system

• Surface water control
• Control of gases
• Leachate management
• Environmental monitoring system

Post Closure of Landfill

The landfill after closure is typically maintained over a period of up to 30 years. Post-
closure care involves maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the final cover,
operating the leachate collection system, monitoring the groundwater, and maintaining
and operating the gas collection system. The post closure requirements include routine
inspection. A well-defined maintenance plan must be set in place for grading and
landscaping, surface drainage control, gas monitoring and control, and leachate collection
and treatment.

ES-6 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

The Physical Environment

Project Location
The proposed sanitary landfill site is located about 15 km from the entrance of the
Genting Sanyen Industrial area, in the Mukim of Tg. Duabelas, Kuala Langat. The project
site covers an area of about 64.7 ha (160 acres), presently covered partially with oil palm
and secondary forest. The proposed site can be accessed from the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport (KLIA) – Banting (Exit B20) main road.

Topography
The topography of the proposed site is generally flat with an average ground level of
+6.3m LSD. Small drainage canals about a meter wide are located within the project site
that discharges into Sg. Langat via Sg. Kelembau, a small tributary of Sg. Langat.

Geology and Soil

The proposed site is located on marine and continental deposits of Quaternary age. The
deposits are mainly composed of clay, silt, sand or peat with minor gravel. Field
investigation indicates that the upper strata layer consists of a continuous layer of rich
peaty soil (about 5m). This is underlain with an intermittent layer or lenses of soft clay or
clay sand. Immediately beneath the silty clay layer is a sandy silt formation.

Climate and Meteorology

The project area experiences a typical equatorial climate with meteorological pattern
influenced by the two monsoon seasons experienced in Peninsular Malaysia, the northeast
monsoon from November to March and the southwest monsoon from May to September.

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The annual average rainfall over the recorded period (1998 to July 2007) at the KLIA
Sepang, Selangor is estimated at 1998.9 mm.

Landuse Characteristics
About 70% of the proposed site, mainly in the northern section, is covered with secondary
forests (remnants of a peat swamp forest) and the remaining section to the south
comprises oil palm cultivation. The Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve and the oil palm
plantations are generally the main landuse within the 5 km radius of the project site.
Bandar Seri Ehsan, a new township, lies about 4 km north of the project site.

Surface Water Hydrology

Sg. Langat originates from the western slopes of the central mountain ridge of the Malay
Peninsula and flow towards the Straits of Melaka. Hydrological information obtained
from the gauging station at Dengkil indicates that the highest average runoff occurs
during the northeast monsoon months from October to January, whilst another set of high
flows occur during the inter-monsoon periods of April and May. Sg. Kelembau is a small
tributary that joins Sg. Langat near Bkt Changgang in the district of Kuala Langat. The
confluence point where Sg. Kelembau joins Sg. Langat is approximately 60 km from the
Straits of Melaka. The average ground level at the project site is +6.5m RL.

Water Quality of Sg. Kelembau and Sg. Langat

The water quality sampling carried out at a canal near the project site upstream of Sg.
Kelembau and along Sg. Kelembau, indicate very poor water quality with WQI values
within Class IV and Class V limits of the Interim National Water Quality Standard
(INWQS). The water samples at these sites were noted to be blackish in colour and acidic
(pH value of about 3.5) typical of streams in peat swamp areas. The water quality along
Sg. Langat sampled at 5 locations, indicate Class III waters along the section of interest.
The river water quality deteriorates from slightly polluted to polluted status as the river
flows downstream to the coast.

Groundwater
The groundwater quality within the project site sampled at depths of 2m and 9m at 3
locations indicates some form of infiltration of organic and non-biodegradable organic
pollution in the groundwater. High levels of total suspended solids were also detected
probably due to unsettled soil particles within the groundwater sampling wells, whilst the
colour of the sampled water is observed to be blackish brown, typical of a peat
environment. As for the heavy metals, lead, iron, manganese were detected above the
Malaysian Drinking Water Benchmark (MDWB) at all the groundwater monitoring wells,
whilst arsenic was detected above the MDWB at stations GW3a and GW3b. The
groundwater quality outside of the project site also indicates some infiltration of organic
and non-biodegradable organic contaminants in some of the groundwater monitoring
stations. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were also noted above the MDWB at stations
GW5 and GW6b.

The groundwater modelling assessment indicates that the groundwater flow is generally
southwest towards the sea. There are no major groundwater abstraction fields located
along this route.

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Ambient Air Quality and Noise

The ambient air quality in the study areas is found to be good. The ambient average noise
levels at the study areas are also noted to be generally low, both characteristics typical of
a rural environment.

The Biological Environment

Flora
The most common species of trees detected in the flora transects within the project site
are Mahang (Macaranga pruinosa) and medang (Litsea gracilipes), followed by
Stemonurus secundiflorus, Kelat Merah (Syzygium chlorantha) and Geronggang
Geronggang (Cratoxylum arborescens). The commercial timber species Meranti paya
(Shorea platycarpa) has a good representation of young trees, regenerated following the
logging activities when the mature trees were removed. The other commercial tree
represented is Kempas (Koompassia malaccensis), however with only one individual.
Dominance of the peat swamp palm species of Cyrtostachys renda and Eleiodoxa
conferta forming dense clumps are noted especially in the wetter sites along with the
Giant Pandan (Pandanus artocarpus). In the more exposed sites where the trees had been
removed, ferns especially Nephrolepis auriculata and Stenochlaena palustris occurred in
great abundance. There are no endangered or threatened species found during the
inventory, except for Meranti Paya (Shorea platycarpa) and Meranti Bunga (Shorea
teysmanniana), which are endemic species of the peat swamp forest, However, these two
species are also present in the adjacent forested areas. The total biomass of this residual
forest is estimated at about 123.3 tonnes per ha.

Fauna
The terrestrial fauna within the project site are expected to be low in species diversity and
abundance, mainly due to the nature of the habitats which comprises degraded peat
swamp forest and oil palm plantation. Only small sized mammals are expected within the
project site along with some reptiles such as snakes, water monitor lizards, geckos,
gliding lizards and skinks and amphibians (toads and frogs). It is anticipated that some
mammals such as the common porcupine, mouse-deer, leopard cat, macaques and wild
pigs from the adjacent Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve, may frequent the site for
food. The avifauna in the study area is expected to be richer compared to the other faunal
species as they are more mobile. The bird species identified during the field surveys are
mainly the open country birds and aerial birds. No endangered faunal species are
expected to be found within the project site.

Aquatic Flora and Fauna

The aquatic life forms such as the phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic organism and
aquatic macrophytes in Sg. Kelembau and Sg. Langat are generally comparable to other
similar habitat of freshwater systems, both in terms of species diversity and abundance.
The fish species along Sg. Langat is expected to have a higher diversity and abundance
when compared to its tributary Sg. Kelembau. None of the fish species in the expected
checklist for Sg. Langat are listed under the IUCN Red list.

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The Socio Economic Environment

Social Profile
The socio-economic study indicates that there is one residential/commercial area (Bandar
Seri Ehsan) located about 4 km north of the project boundary. Bandar Seri Ehsan which is
being developed in phases, currently has 1,252 households and 57 shophouses.
Approximately 64% of the houses are occupied comprising of 4,035 residents. The total
area of Bandar Seri Ehsan is about 1000 acres but only 300 acres has been developed.

Sensitive Communities
There are some orang asli settlements namely Bukit Tadom Orang Asli Settlement, Sakai
Dusun Orang Asli Reserve and Paya Rumput Orang Asli Settlement approximately 11 km
from the proposed landfill site. Some of the Orang Asli may occasionally go into the
forest reserve.

Public Health
Data obtained from the Selangor State Health Department indicate that among the main
infectious diseases recorded in Selangor are dengue fever, tuberculosis, HIV/ AIDS and
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

Archaeological Sites
There are no known historical or archaeological sites within the proposed project area.
Any subsequent findings made during project implementation will need to be referred, as
required, to the relevant authorities.

ES-7 RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk Assessment is incorporated as part of the DEIA with the objective to identify the
risks of the Project in relation to the general public and the surrounding environment. The
risk assessment for this project is focused on the operations of the landfill as the
assessment of potential impacts arising from the construction of the landfill has revealed
that there would not be any significant risk anticipated during the construction phase.

The proposed Sanitary Landfill will have the following systems for the purposes of
environmental protection and to avoid or reduce any adverse impacts associated with the
landfill operations:

• Surface water management system

Surface water runoff and drainage control structures will be provided to reduce scouring
and erosion, with proper design to separate collection and discharge system, and good
drainage system.

• Leachate management system

Leachate will be collected and channelled to a Leachate Treatment Plant to be treated to
acceptable discharge limits prior to its release into the receiving stream. The double liner
system will protect leachate from entering the soil and groundwater beneath the landfill.

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• Landfill gas management system

The generated landfill gas from the decomposition of the wastes will be collected and
channelled either to a flare system or captured for use in energy production.

• Environmental monitoring system

Environmental monitoring systems are incorporated to ensure effective implementation of
environmental measures that involve the use of different kinds of monitoring and
detection devices/systems to improve the operation of the landfill.

Potential Hazards

The potential hazards that have been identified during the operation of the landfill are as
follows:

• Transportation of solid waste to the Sanitary Landfill

The main hazard related to transportation of solid waste is injury/death through traffic
accidents and accidental spills of solid waste and liquids.

• Operational activities at the Sanitary Landfill

Potential hazards from operational activities include:-
- The risk of slope failure and landfill collapse due to uncontrolled dumping of
waste.
- Uneven settlement due to the nature of the peat soils at the site possibly resulting
in tearing of landfill liners, causing groundwater contamination and leakage of
leachate, impairment of landfill gas control systems leading to gas migration.
- Potential fire hazards due to spontaneous combustion in the landfill.
- Bird strike posing high risks to aircrafts.
- Accidents on site involving workers that may cause injuries or fatality.

• Reactions occurring in the Sanitary Landfill

The main hazards arising from reactions that occur in landfills include:-
- Landfill gas generation: uncontrolled movement of gas migrating below buildings
or enclosed spaces can lead to fires or explosions; emission of toxic gases to the
air, groundwater contamination due to gases dissolved in the groundwater, fire
hazard and odour generation.
- Leachate generation : possible contamination of surface runoff and groundwater.

The potential hazards have been analysed for their likelihood and consequences. The
results of the risk Matrix Analysis show that all the potential hazards have scores
below the typical threshold score of 8, equal and above which the risks are ranked as
being High. The Risk Reference Analysis also shows risk scores that are found to be
less than the threshold value of 4,096.

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ES-8 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, MITIGATION MEASURES AND

RESIDUAL IMPACTS

The potential impacts and the corresponding mitigating measures are summarised in
Table ES-1. The main activities that will affect the natural environment include site
preparation, construction, operation, and maintenance phases of the project. Each
development activity is assessed for its potential impacts on the various physical,
biological and social components of the environment. The significant issues identified
and the possible mitigating measures to eliminate or minimise the adverse impacts are
summarised below.

Pre-Construction Phase

• Geotechnical Investigation and Survey Works

No significant adverse impacts are expected during this phase of works as these sites
are easily accessible through existing roads and tracks and only minimal additional
areas will have to be cleared for the preliminary investigations. Clearing works
should be carried out only where necessary and in such a way that minimal
disturbance is caused.

No significant residual impacts are expected to arise from these activities.

• Land Acquisition
The proposed sanitary landfill site covering an area of about 64.7 ha is owned by the
Selangor State and therefore no land acquisition will be required for the project site.
However, the construction of the access road leading to the landfill site would require
a short stretch of the access road (about 2 km) to be acquired from a private owner.
The acquisition of private land although relatively small in area, should be
professionally handled in order to prevent any protests from the landowners. The
terms of land compensation should be discussed among all affected parties in order to
reach a fair and amicable agreement among the parties concerned. Provided land
acquisition and compensation is properly handled, no residual impact is anticipated.

Construction Phase

• Land Clearing and Earthworks

The main impacts expected to arise from this activity are summarised below:

Soil Erosion
Soil erosion, soil loss and increased siltation of the receiving streams and rivers are
impacts that can be expected due to the clearing activities and earthworks. These
impacts can be substantially mitigated by adopting good construction practice
supported by soil protection measures such as selective clearance, installing storm
water diversion ditches, silt traps, use of temporary covers on exposed slopes and
revegetation of exposed areas.

Residual impacts of soil erosion at the construction areas will be inevitable even with
the introduction of erosion control measures and is expected to be moderate.

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River Hydrology and Surface Water Quality

Soil erosion will increase sediment loads in the receiving canals and streams
downstream of the project area. The present water quality in the canals is already
poor (Class V). Similarly, the Sg. Kelembau is also of poor water quality (Class IV).
The increased sediments will further deteriorate the water quality of these canals and
streams. Implementing soil protection measures can reduce the impacts of silt
loadings during the construction period. Residual impact will be inevitable but can be
to a lesser extent.

Aquatic Ecology
Increases in the silt loads to the receiving stream/river will increase the concentration
of suspended solids (SS). This may also result in a decrease in dissolved oxygen (DO)
and other parameters. In view that the water quality in the affected canals and streams
are already of poor quality, there will only be a slight change in the aquatic habitat
and hence the effect on aquatic life will be minimal. Any impact on aquatic ecology
will likely be the suffocation of benthic species by the increased silt loads. Since only
the hardy types of fish are expected to be found in the canal/river system, the impact
would not be significant on the fish population. The proposed mitigating measures for
soil erosion and protection would therefore also be beneficial for the sustenance of
the aquatic ecosystem.

Air quality
Land clearance and earthworks will generate dust due to the movement and
operations of construction vehicles. Other airborne pollutants may be generated
through exhaust emissions from machinery and vehicles. The air quality impacts will
be mainly confined to the project site, affecting mainly the construction workers since
there are no nearby residents who will be affected. Mitigation measures include
maintaining and upkeeping major haul routes, wetting of stockpiles and all access
routes, washing of construction vehicle wheels before exiting the site and re-
vegetation of exposed areas.

Noise
Noise and vibration impacts will be prominent during site clearing and construction
works due to the movement of heavy vehicles and operation of machineries and
equipment. This noise impact can be minimised through the use of mufflers or
silencers on heavy vehicles and machineries, provision of noise barriers or screens,
provision of hearing protection devices for personnel and installation of warning
signboards to indicate high noise areas. It is expected that the construction workers
and machine operators at the project site will be the most affected by the noise levels
since there are no nearby residents.

Terrestrial Flora
The clearance of the project area will result in permanent loss of the existing
vegetation and the microhabitats contained therein. The proposed project area is
partially within a residual peat swamp forest area which had been previously logged
and oil palm plantation area. The impact on the terrestrial flora is not considered to be
major especially since no plant species listed as endangered or threatened were
identified in the project area. Meranti Paya (Shorea platycarpa) and Meranti Bunga
(Shorea teysmanniana) which are endemic species of the peat swamp forest were
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found to be present, however, these two species are present in the adjacent Kuala
Langat Selatan Forest Reserve.

Terrestrial Fauna
The impacts of the project on terrestrial fauna arise from the loss of habitat due to
land clearance. Smaller mammals and amphibians that are less mobile will perish
during the removal of the vegetation cover. The loss of faunal individuals as a result
of implementation of the landfill project is inevitable but the numbers are expected to
be low since the existing wildlife population residing within the proposed site is
relatively low in species diversity and abundance. It is recommended that the
clearance activities should be planned such as to allow for an escape route towards
the adjacent peat swamp forest area.

• Establishment of temporary buildings and utilities

The setting up of the construction worker’s camp and site offices on site will generate
sewage, sullage and solid waste. This can contribute to further impairment of the
canals/river water quality, public health hazards and aesthetic impacts. These impacts
can be significantly reduced through proper waste management at the camp and site
office. Potential health problems can be avoided by health screening of all
construction workers for communicable diseases and providing adequate sanitation
and waste disposal facilities. Upon completion of the construction work, the
temporary structures and buildings should be removed and the land re-vegetated and
restored.

With appropriate sanitation facilities provided at the construction area and proper
construction management, there should be no residual impacts arising from the
establishment of the temporary buildings and associated utilities.

• Transportation of Construction Material and Equipment

The main access to the project site will be along the State Route B20 which is a 30m
dual carriageway that runs west to east from the junction with State Route B18 at
Kampung Bukit Canggang and Bandar Baru Nilai. Potential road safety hazards,
impairment of air quality and increased noise levels may arise due to the
transportation of construction materials and equipment. These impacts are relatively
short term and can be minimised through proper traffic control and maintenance of
roads, and adopting dust suppression methods. Potential beneficial impacts of this
activity are the expected increase in business opportunities for local suppliers and
contractors, and an increase in employment opportunities.

On the overall, residual impacts on road and traffic due to the construction activities
are expected to be short term and insignificant. With proper road maintenance and
traffic control, the risks and inconveniences to other road users can be largely
minimised.

• Storage and handling of construction materials

Construction materials will need to be stored on site during the construction phase.
Some of these materials including fuel and lubricants, if not properly stored and
handled, can result in spillage with adverse impacts on soil, air and water quality. The
construction workers will need to be properly trained and made aware of the need for
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proper storage and handling of construction materials to ensure that any materials that
escape do not cause environmental damage.

Impacts associated with the storage and handling of construction equipment/materials

are expected to be short-term and can be well controlled. As such, residual impacts
will not be significant.

• Waste Disposal
Waste materials are expected to be generated during the construction stage, especially
during land clearing and excavation works. If not properly disposed, these wastes can
cause reduced aesthetics and impair the water quality of the nearby rivers. Suitable
excavated material will be re-used where possible as fill materials. Proper disposal
methods are necessary during and upon completion of the construction activities.

Biomass will be disposed onsite through mulching and/or composting methods.

Under the present legislation, open burning is strictly prohibited unless approval is
obtained from the Director-General of DOE. If permission is given, this needs to be
carried out under strict control and only during suitable weather conditions to ensure
that there is no potential to cause a major haze problem. The method of burning must
also be carefully planned and implemented in order not to create any risk of bushfire
spreading into adjacent forested areas. It is especially important to control open
burning at this project site in view of the site being located in peaty area whereby any
fire that starts will be difficult to put out and control.

Hazardous wastes (including scheduled wastes) should be handled or disposed of in

an appropriate manner by authorised licensed scheduled waste disposal contractors.

There should be no residual impact arising from the disposal of waste generated from
the project provided this is carried out according to proper waste management
practices and in accordance with the relevant legal requirements.

• Construction of access roads

The impact of road construction will mainly be related to soil erosion and
deterioration of water quality and air quality. These impacts are localised and
temporary, and they can be minimised through proper planning of the works and
adoption of appropriate mitigating measures.

Soil erosion and subsequent siltation effects can be minimised using soil protection
measures such as plastic sheeting, turfing and installing silt traps at strategic
locations. Proper on-site housekeeping procedures like washing of vehicle wheels
when exiting project areas, spraying of exposed areas, etc. can reduce impacts on air
quality.

Residual impacts at the access road areas can be mitigated to low levels with proper
construction management.

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• Construction of the Sanitary Landfill and Associated Works

Water Quality and Aquatic Aspects

Soil erosion problems associated with land clearing and earthworks are expected to
continue throughout the construction period. The river water quality will also
deteriorate further from its present condition in respect of its suspended solids,
turbidity and other related parameters. Provided control measures are implemented,
the residual effects on water quality and the aquatic life will not be of major
significance since the affected streams are already of poor condition.

Air Quality and Noise

Impacts on air quality, noise and vibration will continue during construction works.
The mitigation measures recommended for the earlier stages of works should
continue to be implemented during this phase.

Socio-Economic Aspects
The construction of the sanitary landfill will create employment and business
opportunities. Whilst it is anticipated that some proportion of these jobs will be
undertaken by foreign workers or workers outside the region, local residents should
also be given opportunities for employment. Spin-off businesses will also be created
during the construction stage due to the increased demand for goods and services for
the project and the workers.

Operational Phase
Landfilling Activities
Soil Erosion
Impacts of soil erosion will continue into the operational phase since the landfill cells
will be opened in stages to receive waste. Soil protection and erosion control
measures such as detention ponds and silt traps should be provided at appropriate
locations in accordance with the landfill cell staging; placement of final capping and
turfing over completed landfill cells will also help reduce the impacts of soil erosion.
Residual impacts can be minimised with proper staging of the cells and
implementation of the control measures.

Slope Failure and Ground Heave Problems During Landfill Activities

The instability of soils especially during heavy downpour periods could cause slope
failures due to the weight of refuse and the inclination of the landfill slopes. The
peaty soil condition within the project area may cause the ground to heave or result in
uneven ground settlement due to the load of wastes on the soil surface. This in turn
may damage the landfill liner system and leachate collection pipes, as well as the gas
management system. Hence, the landfill should be designed and implemented well
with proper drainage for surface run-off within the landfill. The areas should also be
compacted and turfed upon completion. Potential hazards of slope failure and ground
heave during the operational phase can be prevented, provided that the design and
construction of the landfill has adequate provision to counter such problems.

Terrestrial Flora
The impact to terrestrial flora due to land clearing activities will continue during the
operational stage as the removal of vegetation will be carried out in phases
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corresponding to the opening of the landfill cells. The residual impacts to terrestrial
flora are expected to be localised loss of flora; no loss of species with high
conservation value nor any major impact on biodiversity, are expected.

Terrestrial Fauna
The clearance of existing vegetation for the opening of more landfill cells will destroy
the habitat and food supply of the existing faunal species. Some mobile species such
as birds, mammals and reptiles will move out to the surrounding environment while
less mobile species such as amphibians and some reptiles will likely perish. The
availability of food source in the municipal waste may proliferate the population of
birds, rats and flies that can be of major nuisance to local communities if the
population is very high, possibly with public health consequence. The presence of
birds in large numbers is also of great risk to the safety of aircraft taking off and
landing. Appropriate measures need to be taken to minimise the risk of bird strike.
Daily soil cover and good housekeeping throughout the site is important to reduce the
likelihood of such problems occurring.

Noise
The source of noise will be mainly due to tipping activities, land clearing activities,
construction of new landfill cells, operation of machineries and equipments, operation
of the leachate treatment plant as well as the vehicular movement of waste trucks.
Noise impacts affecting the residents will be insignificant as the location of the
nearest residential area is about 4 km from the site.

Land Use
The impacts on the land use are the transformation of the on site physical landscape
from peat swamp forest habitat and oil palm plantation into an area of landfill cells
and associated buildings, access roads and landscaped grounds. The adjacent areas of
the Kuala Langat Selatan Forest should be maintained as a Permanent Forest Reserve
in order to preserve the forest habitat. Upon completion of the landfill operations,
proper landcaping should be provided to enhance the landfill environment. This could
be complemented by the planting of appropriate trees that will allow the completed
landfill to blend into its surroundings.

Peat Fire Hazard, Landfill Gas Explosions and Fires

The decomposition of the biodegradable organic fraction of the municipal solid waste
generates landfill gases that have potential for fire hazards, mainly due to the
presence of methane in the landfill gas. If a fire should occur, there may be difficulty
in controlling and fighting off the spread of the fire due to the peaty area, possibly
causing haze problems. The mitigating measures include thorough checks to detect
any fire and smoke in the incoming waste vehicles and during waste tipping
activities; provision of fire breaks to prevent the spread of fire; removing all peat soil
from the landfill cells if possible; provision of adequate fire fighting facilities and
equipment; adequate training and drills for personnel on Emergency Response; and
regular maintenance of the landfill gas management system.

Public Health and Safety

The operations of a landfill, if not properly managed will pose significant health
impacts to the site workers as well as to the local public. The health hazards that are
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associated with this landfill project are emission of landfill gases that may contain
toxic compounds and odour problems; proliferation of pests that are potential carriers
of infectious diseases; occupational hazards; and common health /safety risks. These
risks have been analysed and are not considered to be of major significance.

Socio-Economic Impact
The socio-economic impact of most concern is the potential risk to aircraft safety due
to the possibility of bird strike, although the likelihood of occurrence is low. With the
provision of effective measures to avoid proliferation/migration of birds to the
landfill, the risk to aircrafts can be prevented. The nearby residents have also raised
concern over odour nuisance, public safety and health, visual aesthetics and reduced
property values. Since, the nearest residential area is about 4 km away from the
landfill site, these impacts will not be significant, even though they may be perceived
to be so. The odour modelling results indicated that the potential odour impact on
residence due to the landfill operation is minimal. Periodic monitoring of odour
should be conducted and investigation on lodged complaints should be attended to
with appropriate action taken immediately.

Reaction Occurring in the Sanitary Landfill

Leachate and Water Quality
Leachate generation is inevitable and the discharge of raw leachate into the receiving
streams/rivers would significantly impact the surface water quality and aquatic
ecosystem. The leachate can cause corrosion of metal piping and other related metal-
made materials. It is crucial to ensure that the leachate is treated to the required
discharge limits prior to its release into the receiving water body. Effective leachate
treatment plant should be provided as part of the landfill operation together with a
well designed drainage system. Continuous monitoring on the treatment plant
operational parameters for both influent and treated leachate effluent quality and
groundwater quality for any infiltration of leachate into soil and groundwater will be
required.

Potential leakage from the liner system and impact of the groundwater sources during
the operation of landfill have been assessed using Modflow modelling and the results
show that there is no impact anticipated on the groundwater during landfill operation
period based on a 100 years simulation period.

Aquatic Habitat
To minimise the impact on the stream water quality and aquatic resources, a Leachate
Treatment Plant should be provided as part of the landfill operation and the generated
leachate shall be treated to meet the required discharge limits prior to its release to the
receiving water body. The effectiveness of the erosion control measures should also
be checked and maintained regularly to minimize soil loading from the landfill areas.
As mentioned earlier, the existing water quality of the canals and Sg. Kelembau are
presently already in poor condition; the changes to the water quality and the impact
on the aquatic resources will therefore not be of major significance.

Landfill Gas Generation and Air Quality

The decomposition of the biodegradable organic fraction of the municipal solid waste
generate gases that have the potential to cause fire hazards, release phytotoxins,
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unpleasant odour and contribute to groundwater pollution through the dissolution of

gases into the waterbody. To minimise the impacts, the landfill shall have a gas
collection facility that is well designed and operated. Gases shall be flared until such
time when the quantity of gas generated may be considered for energy recovery.
Suitable soil cover shall be provided to contain the emission of fugitive gases to the
atmosphere. Continuous monitoring on the site is crucial to prevent water and air
quality impairment and promote efficient gas management and control. Adequate
Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) should be provided to all workers to
reduce/prevent any potential health, safety and environmental risk during operations.
The residual impacts in terms of global warming and ambient air quality are expected
to be minimal with the implementation of proper control measures at the landfill.

Odour
The impact of odour from the decomposing of waste at the landfill site is also
inevitable, but can be controlled though proper management of the landfill operation,
good housekeeping and application of odour control measures. Buffer zones of 500m
around the landfill site should be provided to act as a filter to the odorous compounds;
vegetative landscaping can also help disperse odour before it reaches the sensitive
receptors. The odour modelling exercise has indicated that the odour effect will only
be felt within about 700m to the north and about 4.6km to the east from the source
taking into account the terrain and the meteorological conditions at the site. The
simulation results show that the potential odour impact to the residential area located
about 4 km to the north of the project area due to the proposed landfill operational is
minimal. There are no residential areas to the east of the proposed site which is
covered with oil palm. Therefore, odour impacts arising from the landfill project will
not be of major significance.

Transport of Municipal Solid Waste from Source to Sanitary Landfill

Traffic Management
A slight increase in traffic volume, occasional congestion, odour nuisance through
spillage of waste and liquids onto the roads, dust and air pollution are expected due to
the movement of waste trucks to the landfill. The waste trucks should be of
appropriate type with proper containment of the waste contents. Scheduling and
staggering of waste trucks arrival and departure times at the landfill site would help to
‘thin out’ and lessen the traffic impact, whilst construction of a half-diamond
interchange at the junction of State Route B20 and the access road to the landfill
would obviate disruption of the main traffic flow along State Route B20. Installing of
proper traffic signs and adequate lamp posts along the roads will prevent accidents
and safeguard road users.

Waste Management
The landfill is not designed to handle waste that may contain inflammable materials
nor hazardous and toxic wastes. Therefore these wastes should not be accepted for
landfilling and should be segregated and handled accordingly for proper disposal.
There should be no adverse residual impact from waste management at the landfill if
proper procedures are established and implemented. Beneficial residual impacts will
arise from the availability of a properly designed and managed landfill for the
sanitary disposal of municipal solid waste as opposed to the current methods of
uncontrolled dumping of such wastes.
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Closure/Post Closure Phase

Soil Erosion and Soil Settlement

Upon closure of the landfill, soil erosion will occur mainly through breach in the
turfed/vegetated landfill areas, whilst settlement may occur when the waste
decomposes and consolidates. The residual impacts of soil erosion can be minimised
by continuing the control measures adopted in the earlier stages of works. Ground
settlement problems can be avoided through proper compaction during landfilling.

Leachate and Water Quality

Leachate generation is expected to continue for some years after the landfill stops
receiving wastes, although the amount will decrease with time. The maintenance and
operation of the leachate collection and treatment facilities should be continuously
monitored to ensure that the discharged treated leachate meets the required standards
until such time as no more leachate is detected.

Landfill Gas Management, Air Quality and Peat Fire Hazards

Landfill gas generation will also continue even after the closure of the landfill due to
the ongoing decomposition of the remaining organic matter but to a lesser extent over
the post closure period. Periodic maintenance of the gas treatment systems and proper
containment of the landfill gas will be necessary to prevent fire hazards and toxic gas
releases.

Odour Nuisance
Site restoration and proper final capping procedure will effectively eliminate odour
nuisance from the landfill area. The residual impact of odour from the landfill area
during post closure is expected to be negligible.

Public Health
With proper maintenance of landfill gas emission and collection system, leachate
treatment plant and final capping on the landfill, no significant impact to public health
are expected during the post-closure phase.

Visual Aesthetics and Landscape

Visual aesthetic impacts will be apparent during the early stages of the restoration
works and gradually improve as the work progresses to completion. The area will be
highly transformed during this phase through proper landscape planning and re-
vegetation of the landfill area as part of the restoration activities.

ES-9 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

A detailed Environmental Management Plan (EMP) should be developed by the project

proponent prior to actual implementation of the project. The strategies for developing the
EMP include monitoring of specific aspects of the environment, with the aim to protect
the integrity of the Sanitary Landfill and also for protection of the existing environment.

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Monitoring strategies are recommended to ensure that the project is developed in an

environmentally sustainable manner. The monitoring programme summarised below is
also vital to check the effectiveness of the mitigation measures adopted.

• Traffic flow should be monitored on all permanent and temporary access roads during
the construction and operational phase to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
• Water quality and groundwater monitoring are proposed during construction and
operational phases to check on the effectiveness of the mitigating measures adopted.
• The discharge of treated leachate from the leachate treatment plant should be
monitored to prevent pollution in the receiving streams during the operational phase
of the landfill.
• A monitoring programme for ambient air quality and noise should be implemented
during the construction and operational phases.
• Inspection and maintenance of soil erosion protection facilities must be carried out to
ensure the effectiveness of the control measures.

ES-10 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

An Emergency Response Plan (ERP) has been recommended in this DEIA for emergency
situations and to ensure safety measures are provided for the activities in the landfill
during construction and operational phases. The ERP is a comprehensive action plan with
formalized procedures to respond to all emergencies. In this report, recommendations for
potential emergency situations related to landfilling activities are presented.

ES-11 CONCLUSION

The construction of the Kuala Langat Sanitary Landfill at Mukim Tg. Duabelas is
necessary to meet the increasing amounts of municipal solid waste generated in the
Districts of Kuala Langat and Sepang as well as the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
and Putrajaya. The implementation of the proposed Kuala Langat Sanitary Landfill would
significantly reduce the pressure on the existing sanitary landfills in Selangor and would
redress the environmental degradation problems associated with ageing dumpsites. The
potential impacts that have been identified as being likely to occur as a result of the
Project can be partly or fully mitigated to acceptable levels provided the mitigation
measures recommended are implemented. The highest risk posed by the Project is the
possibility of bird strike affecting the safety of aircrafts. Whilst the likelihood of this
occurring is small, any one event would have catastrophic consequences. Counter
measures have been recommended which should be strictly adhered to, and it is also
proposed that the operations be closely monitored to gauge the extent of bird flocking.
Close communications should be maintained with the airport authorities to pre-determine
any possible concern that a bird strike may occur. With the incorporation of all the
proposed environmental, safety and health protection measures, coupled with good
management at the landfill facilities, the associated impacts can be maintained at
acceptable levels.

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