Exposure of municipal solid waste disposal sites to climate related geohazards: Case study of Selangor

In the advent of climate change, municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal sites may be exposed to climate-related geohazards such as floods and landslides, which negatively impacts humans and the environment through direct and cascading effects. A preliminary assessment was conducted on landfills and open dumps in Selangor using topographic maps, flood hazard maps, satellite imagery and field investigation. The results reveal that six out of 20 landfill sites in Selangor are highly exposed to the100-year flood while two sites are exposed to slope failure. The exposed sites are currently without any protection measures making populated areas in the vicinity vulnerable to hazards and their cascading impacts. More detailed investigation is required at the exposed sites to plan appropriate mitigation measures.