Biodrying of Municipal Solid Waste: A Case Study in Malaysia

Municipal solid waste (MSW) in Malaysia contains excessive moisture, which complicates recycling segregation and makes the use of advanced technology, such as solid waste combustion, inappropriate and harmful. Furthermore, MSW pre-treatment to reduce moisture content is uncommon in Malaysia. Biodrying is a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial technology since the fundamental principle relies on internal energy generated by the decomposition of organic waste. The process of biodrying could be a useful alternative for MSW management, allowing for the production of derived fuel. This chapter focuses on the potential of biodrying to reduce excessive moisture content for MSW, particularly in Malaysia. Through nine sub-chapters, this book chapter provides an overview of the fundamentals of solid waste biodrying as well as the potential of solid waste biodrying systems in Malaysia. The first chapter provides a succinct overview of the concerns and challenges of solid waste management in the world and Malaysia. In Chap. 2, a concise explanation of the drying technology is described. The solid waste biodrying treatment system is covered in Chap. 3, followed by the design of the biodrying reactor in Chap. 4. In Chap. 4, there is also a more detailed description of the case study that is being conducted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The factors that influence the biodrying process are discussed in Chap. 5. Chapter 6 presents the direct observation of fieldwork at solid waste biodrying plants in Malaysia and abroad. The importance of biodrying from various perspectives is elaborated in Chap. 7, and the potential use of solid waste biodrying in solid waste management in Malaysia is discussed in Chap. 8. Finally, Chap. 9 concludes the importance of a solid waste biodrying system in the future