Study on Generation and Composition of Solid Waste Produced in UNIMAS Cafeterias

UNIMAS's cafeterias generate solid waste everyday and there are 11 cafeterias operating in UNIMAS. The study involved two main cafeterias which are located at Bunga Raya and Alamanda colleges. The objective of the study was to determine the waste generation and composition of solid waste generated by the cafeterias. The study was done by collecting data from both cafeterias on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The collected waste were weight, mixed, quartered and the composition of the samples were then determined. The amount of waste generated daily in Bunga Raya cafeteria was more compared to that generated in Alamanda cafeteria. Food scraps were the highest component in the solid waste for both cafeterias, followed by plastics, papers, and non-ferrous metal. The energy that can be generated from waste from the whole cafeterias in UNIMAS was estimated at 95, 444.33 kJ/kg/day. According to the study, the solid waste management can be more efficient by minimizing the food preparation by the cafeteria operators. Besides that, the study can create awareness among students regarding the potential energy that can be harvested from the solid waste.