TY - CHAP
T1 - Challenges and lessons learnt from a community-based food waste composting project in Johor
AU - Sanadi, Nur Farzana Ahmad
AU - Baharulrazi, Norfhairna
AU - Mansor, Nur Naha Abu
AU - Fujiwara, Takeshi
AU - Lee, Chew Tin
N1 - Funding Information:
on the collection of segregated food waste, and quality of the final compost (Fan et al., 2016) are among the major concerns. Public awareness, on the urgent need of food waste recycling to safeguard the environment and economy, can be powerful to change the current scenario of low recycling rate. This study shares the case study of community composting conducted in Layang-layang, Johor. Malaysia. The case study has been initiated by the researchers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) with financial support from the Malaysian Government National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS, 2017), supported by Mini Rural Transformation Centre (MRTC) and the local communities in Layang-layang, Johor. This study aims to present the lessons learned on the community participation and the deliverables of the project. Project sustainability remained the key challenge to ensure the success transformation of the community on the waste to wealth quest. Ideally, the villagers could continue the effort on their own accord, moving towards the highest level of citizen participation under Arnstein (1969)’s ladder of full citizen control.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Research University Grant with the grant no. S.J130000.0846.4Y042 and Q.J130000.2546.14H65.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2018, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - A series of Low-Carbon Society (LCS) Blueprint has been launched in Iskandar Malaysia (IM) region since 2012. The public must be equipped with fundamental knowledge and skills related to the LCS work conducted collectively through a structured network of like-minded individuals and receive technical support and monitoring from experts and practitioners. This paper presents the lessons learned from a community-based food-waste composting program, a low-carbon action outlined under the IM LCS Blueprint, at Layang-layang, Johor as a case study. Selected volunteers in SC Jaya Sepakat, with the support by Mini Rural Transformation Centre (MRTC) have been trained and were given home composting kits. A centralised composting site was set up where one volunteer has been identified as the key player to manage daily composting operation. Food waste bins were collected and converted into compost through a five-step process at the composting site. A technical advisor from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia transferred the knowledge and technology to the villagers in terms of hands-on training, overall operation, compost quality analysis and post-application study of compost on plants. This study aims to empower the community to implement the food waste composting practices in a sustainable manner that would fulfill the societal and economic needs. The challenges and lessons gained through the 8 months engagement are reported. Post-training and end of project surveys were conducted to assess the performance of the community engagement. The survey concluded that the volunteers require extrinsic motivation from external organisations to continue the LCS initiatives until a tangible economic impact is generated. Community's daily commitment and limited communication facilities in rural areas made continuous engagement a challenge. The project also drew a lesson of importance in collaboration with different stakeholders for greater impact and optimisation in resources that would require further study.
AB - A series of Low-Carbon Society (LCS) Blueprint has been launched in Iskandar Malaysia (IM) region since 2012. The public must be equipped with fundamental knowledge and skills related to the LCS work conducted collectively through a structured network of like-minded individuals and receive technical support and monitoring from experts and practitioners. This paper presents the lessons learned from a community-based food-waste composting program, a low-carbon action outlined under the IM LCS Blueprint, at Layang-layang, Johor as a case study. Selected volunteers in SC Jaya Sepakat, with the support by Mini Rural Transformation Centre (MRTC) have been trained and were given home composting kits. A centralised composting site was set up where one volunteer has been identified as the key player to manage daily composting operation. Food waste bins were collected and converted into compost through a five-step process at the composting site. A technical advisor from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia transferred the knowledge and technology to the villagers in terms of hands-on training, overall operation, compost quality analysis and post-application study of compost on plants. This study aims to empower the community to implement the food waste composting practices in a sustainable manner that would fulfill the societal and economic needs. The challenges and lessons gained through the 8 months engagement are reported. Post-training and end of project surveys were conducted to assess the performance of the community engagement. The survey concluded that the volunteers require extrinsic motivation from external organisations to continue the LCS initiatives until a tangible economic impact is generated. Community's daily commitment and limited communication facilities in rural areas made continuous engagement a challenge. The project also drew a lesson of importance in collaboration with different stakeholders for greater impact and optimisation in resources that would require further study.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047353899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85047353899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3303/CET1863060
DO - 10.3303/CET1863060
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:85047353899
VL - 63
SP - 355
EP - 360
BT - Chemical Engineering Transactions
PB - Italian Association of Chemical Engineering - AIDIC
ER -
