Dr Prihartanto explaining the MGL processing process in LMIREM at his doctoral hearing at the ITS Environmental Engineering Department

ITS Campus, ITS News —  Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has once again produced graduates who play a role in the development of technology and science. This time it came from the ITS Environmental Engineering Doctoral Study Program , namely Dr. Prihartanto who conducted a study in landfill mining integrated with the energy and material recovery process (LMIREM) at the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), Bekasi.

The researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) explained that the topic of his dissertation was chosen because of the increasingly concerning conditions of Final Processing Sites (TPA) or landfills . Many landfills have closed and there are various disaster risks due to piles of waste that are not properly processed. The implementation of LMIREM is a solution that is also in line with supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 7 on clean and affordable energy and SDGs 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

Landfill mining itself is an approach used by dredging the landfill area . The landfill excavation material (MGL) will then be reused. “This MGL can be used as compost from soil-like material (MST) to refused derived fuel (RDF) products,” he explained.

The utilization process is carried out by separating MGL measuring less than 10 millimeters. Particles that pass measuring 10 to 30 millimeters are filtered again with a size of less than 5 millimeters. The filtering results in the form of fractions that pass will later be in the form of MST which is then used as compost.

Dr Prihartanto (center) with Dr Novrizal ST MSi (third from right) and examiners in a doctoral promotion hearing related to the LMIREM study

Furthermore, according to Prihartanto, large fractions that have not passed the two filters with a size of more than 30 millimeters will be reprocessed. Utilizing a wind sifter or wind flow, large but light fractions such as paper, cloth, and plastic will be separated. That fraction will then be used as RDF.

In his dissertation, the Bandung-born man also tried to study productivity, deficiencies and impacts, to the best RDF composition. He got the best RDF composition, namely with a calorie composition of 25.23 Megajoules per kilogram. This composition was obtained from the ratio of plastic components to wood and garden waste at a ratio of 40 percent and 60 percent.

Further, Prihartanto revealed that landfill mining also still has shortcomings in the form of the use of conventional electricity in its operation. This was found to have a negative impact on the marine ecosystem. “In addition, this technology is still relatively expensive,” he added.

Dr Novrizal ST MSi in conveying his views on the LMIREM study as an external examiner in the doctoral promotion hearing of Dr Prihartanto at ITS

In response to this, Prihartanto recommended the use of solar power as an alternative, more environmentally friendly source of electricity. In addition, he also reminded that there should be a reduction in waste from upstream. “This is to avoid the accumulation of waste in landfills that require expensive technology in their handling,” explained Prihartanto in a doctoral promotion session held at the ITS Environmental Engineering Department , Friday (24/1).

Director of Waste Management of the Ministry of Environment and KLHK Dr Novrizal ST MSi who was an external examiner in the trial also gave his appreciation for this study. According to him, this study will help in making future policies in waste management.

In the end, Novrizal hopes that landfill mining technology can be implemented immediately to various landfills in Indonesia. He sees this as having the potential to overcome the problem of waste accumulation in various landfills in Indonesia. “From this approach, it is also hoped that it can be a form of mitigation of climate change that is occurring,” he said hopefully. (ITS PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Reporter: Bella Ramadhani

Translator : Devinka Mutianeira