Vertical Greenery Systems as Microbial Air Quality Filters for Community Houses Located Near the Landfill Site

Abstract

Rapid urban development, along with high population growth in Indonesia, has forced some communities to move away from the city center. At the same time, the city needs space for its waste, which is typically deposited in landfill sites. In both cases, the city outskirts have become favored sites for development. As a result, some communities now find themselves living adjacent to a landfill site and must cope with its air pollution. This study assesses the application of a vertical greenery system (VGS) acting as a microbial air quality filter for community houses located near the landfill site in Kampung Nambo in South Tangerang, Indonesia. Six types of plants were selected for analysis. The study found that Hedera helix was the most effective plant for filtering microbes from the air; the highest recording was reaching 717.3 CFU/m3 (day 10). The study also highlighted the presence of solar radiation, additional shading, and natural ventilation combined with the VGS help to improve air quality. Higher temperatures can reduce the microorganisms, thus impacting the number of bacteria and fungi. Every 1 W/m2 increase in solar radiation can reduce bacteria by 1.98 to 2.16 CFU/m3. Furthermore, the insights of this study should encourage both governmental decision-makers and the broader community to reexamine the importance of vertical greening in settlements adjacent to a landfill.

Keywords

• air quality
• dense settlement
• landfill
• vertical greenery system