Professor Agamutu Pariatamby

Agamutu Pariatamby

Professor Agamutu Pariatamby

  • Professor Special Studies Division

Biography

Professor Agamutu Pariatamby is a Professor at the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development specializing in Solid and Hazardous Waste Management. He is also a High-Level End Foreign Expert for the Ministry of Science and Technology, China. Before joining Sunway University, Professor Agamutu spent 44 years as a Senior Professor at University of Malaya. He is also Visiting Professor at Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China; Vice-President and International Advisory Board Member of the Society of Solid Waste Management Experts in Asia and Pacific Islands (SWAPI); and Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia. Prof Agamutu is the Senior Editor in Chief of the Waste Management & Research international journal based in Rotterdam, Holland; and Editor of the Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management. He is the Chairman of the Organization for Climate Change (OFCC) and a Member of the DE Tao Masters, China.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Malaya (UM)
  • MSc, University of Malaya (UM)
  • BSC(Hons), University of Malaya (UM)

Research Interests

  • Solid Waste Management
  • Plastic Biodegradation
  • Sustainable Environmental Management
  • Life Cycle Analysis
  • Hazardous Wastes
  • Solid Substrate Technology
  • Greenhouse Gas Reduction
  • MFA and POPs
  • Circular Economy
  • Extended Producer Responsibility

Notable Publications

Books:

  1. Sadhan Kumar Ghosh, Ramakrishna Sen, H N Chanakya and Agamuthu P. (2020). Bioresource Utilization and Bioprocess. Springer Nature Singapore. ISBN 978 981 15 1606 1. Pp283.
  2. Agamuthu P, Fauziah Shahul Hamid and Mehran Sanam Bhatti (2020). Sustainable Waste Management Challenges in Developing Countries. (pp.586). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
  3. Fauziah Shahul Hamid, Siti Suhaila Harith, Japareng Lalung, Auwalu Hassan and Agamuthu P. (2019). Technical Report: Abundance and Distribution of Marine Debris on Selected Beaches of Marine Park Islands. Department of Fisheries Malaysia. Pp 48. ISBN 978-967-0633-53-4.
  4. Agamuthu P (Ed). (2018). Proceedings of the ISWA World Congress 2018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pp592. ISBN 978-967-16527
  5. Prasad Modak, Jeffrey Seadon and Agamuthu P. (2017). Asia Waste Management Outlook (AWMO). United Nations Environment. Pp 234.

Book chapter:

  1. Agamuthu P, Mehran Sanam Bhatti, Fauziah Shahul Hamid (2020). Waste Management in Developing Countries: An Overview, In: (Ed) Sustainable Waste Management Challenges in Developing Countries. IGI Global publishers, USA. Pp 494-519.
  2. Agamuthu P, and Mehran Sanam Bhatti, (2020). Waste Management Challenges in Malaysia. In: (Ed.)
  3. Agamuthu P, Mehran S B. and Fauziah S H. Sustainable Waste Management Challenges in Developing Countries. IGI Global publishers, USA. Pp 186-222.
  4. Agamuthu P, and Mehran Sanam Bhatt. (2020). Circular Economy in Malaysia. In: (Ed). Sadhan K Ghosh. Circular Economy: Global Perspective. Springer Nature publishers. Pp 241-268. ISBN 978-981-15-1051-9.
  5. Agamuthu P, and Mehran Sanam Bhatt. (2019). Sustainable Solid Waste Management: Global and Asian Perspective. In (Ed). Rajeev Pratap Singh, Vishal Prasad, and Barkha Vaish. Recent Advances and Global Challenges in Waste Management. Taylor and Francis Group/CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-138-39042-3.

Proceeding papers:

  1. Agamuthu P. Waste Management and in Asia: Challenges and the Way Forward. Keynote. International Conference on Solid Waste 2019, Hangzhou, China. Nov 13-16, 2019. Pp 34-35.
  2. Agamuthu P. Aziz A and Fauziah S H. (2019). Natural Coagulants from Dillenia Indica Seeds for Removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Landfill Leachate. In (Ed Sadhan Kumar Ghosh) Proc. of the 9th International Conference on Solid Waste Management. Bhubaneswar, India. Pg 316.
  3. Agamuthu P., Nithiya A. and Shimaoka, T. (2019). Waste to Energy: Current Technologies. In (Ed Sadhan Kumar Ghosh) Proc. of the 9th   International Conference on Solid Waste Management. Plenary paper. Bhubaneswar, India. Pp 181-185.
  4. Priya M. Agamuthu P. and Fauziah S H. (2019). Fungal Biodegradation of Polyethylene Tetraphthalate Plastics from Landfill. International Young Scientists Symposium on Waste Management and Disposal Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China. Pp. 72-75.
  5. Michael Devadoss, P S., Agamuthu, P. Chenayah, S. and Fauziah, S H. (2019). Impact of Solid Waste Management on Climate Change in Malaysia. International Young Scientists Symposium on Waste Management and Disposal Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China. Pp. 68-71.
  6. P. (2019). Status of Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystem. Expert Workshop on Microplastics in the Water Environment. 19-21 August 2019, Koh Samui, Thailand. Book of abstracts. Pg 15.
  7. Agamuthu P. (2018). Invited Keynote Lecture. Solid waste Management Impact on Sustainable Development. 2018 3rd Intl. Conf. on Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development (CEESD 2018). 30th Nov to 2 Dec 2018.
  8. Agamuthu P. (2018). Invited Keynote Lecture. Waste Management dynamics and challenges in Asia. Proc. Intl. Conf. on Advances and Challenges for Sustainable Ecosystem (ICACSE 2018). National Institute of Technology (NIT), Thrichy, India. 6th -8th Dec 2018. Pp4.
  9. Agamuthu P. (2018). Issues and Challenges of Waste Management and Recycling in Asia. Proc. RECYCLE 2018. Int. Conf. on Waste Management, pp vii. Indian Institute of India (IIT) Guwahati, India.

Articles in academic indexed journals:

  1. Auwalu H., Agamuthu P., Ossai. I C., Aziz A., Mohd Afzanizam M., Jayanthi B., and Fauziah S.H. (2022). Synergistic association of endophytic fungi enhances tolerance, growth and heavy metal uptake of Alocasia calidora in landfill contaminated soil. Applied Soil Ecology 170 (2022) 104307. IF 4.046 Q2.
  2. Ragossnig AM, Agamuthu P. Plastic waste: Challenges and opportunities. Waste Management & Research. 2021;39(5):629-630. doi:10.1177/0734242X211013428
  3. Agamuthu P. (2021). Is plastic Circular Economy, The Solution? Waste Monitor 4(1): 47-48. National Solid Waste association of India.
  4. Aziz, A., Agamuthu P., A Hassan., Auta H.S. and Fauziah S.H. (2021). Green coagulant from Dillenia indica for removal of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and phenol, 4,4, -(1-methylethylidene) bis-from landfill leachate. Environmental Technology & Innovation. 24, Nov 2021, 102061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102061. IF 5.263 Q1
  5. Jayanthy, B. Hassan Auwalu, Agamuthu P., Fauziah S H., and Emenike C. U. (2021). Phytoremediation of leachate contaminated soil: a biotechnological option for the bioreduction of heavy metals induced pollution in tropical landfill. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 29, 22069–22081 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17389-3.
  6. Chanrakant B K., Ramasamy R., Raman V., Raju R. and Agamuthu P. (2021). A Circular Economy model for Waste Management in India. Waste Management and Research, 39 (11): 1427-1436. DOI 10.1177/0734242X211029159
  7. Auwalu Hassan and Agamuthu P. (2021). Bioaugmentation assisted bioremediation and kinetics modelling of heavy metal polluted landfill soil. Intl. J. of Environmental Science and Technology. (accepted). Q2
  8. Auwalu Hassan, Agamuthu P.* and Fauziah Shahul Hamid (2021). Influence of Bioaugmentation on the Decontamination of Heavy Metal Impacted Landfill Soil. Open access journal of Waste Management & Xenobiotics. 4 (2).:000165. DOI: 10.2.3880/oajwx-16000165.
  9. Alberto Bezama and Agamuthu, P. (2021). The Ugly, the Bad and the Good: Reflections on a COVID-devastated year. Waste Management and Research. 39 (6) (June 2021) Open Access. Supplementary issue 1. (pp1-2).
  10. Michel Devadoss, P. S., Agamuthu P., Bhatti, M. S., Chenayah, S., & Shahul Hamid, F. (2021). Strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management in Pakistan. Waste Management & Research, 0734242X20983927.
  11. Michel Devadoss, P.Agamuthu, S.B.Mehran, C. Santha , S.H.Fauziah, “Implications of Municipal Solid Waste Management on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Malaysia and the Way Forward” Waste Management, Volume 119, 1 January 2021, Pages 135-144.
  12. Agamuthu P., Fauziah Shahul Hamid, Mehran Sanam Bhatti, Norkhairah Anuar, and Norkhairiyah Anuar, (2020). ‘Status of Microplastic pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems with a case study on Cherating River, Malaysia’, J. Eng. Technol Sci., 52.2.
  13. Agamuthu P. and Jayanthi Barasarathi, (2020). ‘Clinical waste management under COVID-19 scenario in Malaysia‘, Waste Management & Research (September 2020).
  14. Dwi Hantoko, Xiaodong Li, Agamuthu P., Kunio Yoshikawa, Mika Horttanainen, and Mi Yan, (2020). ‘Challenges and practices on waste management and disposal during COVID-19 pandemic’, Journal of Environmental Management, 286 .
  15. Agamuthu, P., & Barasarathi, J. (2020). Clinical waste management under COVID-19 scenario in Malaysia. Waste Management & Research (Sept 2020).
  16. Sadhan K Ghosh and Agamuthu P. (2019). Plastics in Municipal Solid Waste: What, Where, How and When? Waste Management and Research. 37 (11): 1061-1062.
  17. Auwalu Hassan, Agamuthu P, Aziz Ahmed, Ossai Innocent and Fauziah Shahul Hamid. (2019). Effective Bioremediation of Heavy Metal–contaminated Landfill Soil through Bioaugmentation Using Consortia of Fungi. Journal of Soils and Sediments 20, pages 66–80.
  18. Auwalu Hassan, Agamuthu P, Aziz Ahmed, Helen Shnada Auta and Fauziah Shahul Hamid. 2019. Enhanced Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Landfill Soil Using Filamentous Fungi Consortia: a Demonstration of Bioaugmentation Potential. Water Air Soil Pollut (2019) 230:215
  19. Agamuthu, P. Mehran, S B. Norkhairah A and Norkhairiah A. (2019). Marine Debris: A Review of Impacts and Global Initiatives. Waste Management and Research :37(10): 987-1002.
  20. Agamuthu P., Arne M. Ragossnig and Costas Velis. (2019). Publishing Impactful Interdisciplinary Waste-related Research on Global Challenges, Circular Economy, Climate Change and Plastics Pollution. Waste Management and Research, 37(4): 313-314.
  21. Mehmet Sinan Bilgili and Agamuthu P. (2019). A New Issue in Waste Management: Nanowaste. Waste Management & Research. 37(3): 197-198.
  22. Alaribe F O and Agamuthu P. (2019). Lantana camara- An Ecological Bioindicator Plant for Decontamination of Pb-impaired Soil under Organic Waste-Supplemented Scenarios. Pedoshere 29(2): 248-258.
  23. Alberto Bezama and Agamuthu P. (2019). Addressing the Big Issues in Waste Management. Waste Management and Research. 37(1) (Open access Supplement). 1-4.
  24. A Aziz, Agamuthu P. and Fauziah S H. (2018). Effective Removal of p-tert-Butylphenol and Pyridine, 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-(S) from landfill leachate using locust bean gum. Waste Management and Research, 36(12):1146-1156.
  25. Agamuthu P. (2018). Marine Debris, Plastics, Microplastics and Nano Plastics: What Next? Waste Management and Research. 36(10):869-871.
  26. Fauziah S H. Mehran, S R. Norkhairiyah A. Norkhairah, Priya M. and Agamuthu P. (2018). Worldwide Distribution and Abundance of Microplastics: How Dire is the Situation? Waste Management and Research. 36(10): 873-897.
  27. Emenike C U., Jayanthi, B., Agamuthu P. and Fauziah S H. (2018). Biotransformation and Removal of Heavy Metals: a Review of Phytoremediation and Microbial Remediation Assessment on Contaminated Soil. Environ. Rev. 00: 1–13 (0000) dx.doi.org/10.1139/er-2017-0045.
  28. Agamuthu, P. and Sadhan K Ghosh. (2018). Circular economy: The Way Forward. Waste Management and Research, 36 (6):481-482.
  29. Aziz A, Agamuthu P., and Fauziah S H. (2018)., Removal of Bisphenol A and 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol from Landfill Leachate Using Plant Based Coagulant. Waste Management and Research 36(10): 975-984.
  30. Jayanthi B. Emenike C. Auta S. Agamuthu P. & Fauziah S H. (2017). Characterization of Induced Metal Responses of Bacteria Isolates from Active Non-sanitary Landfill in Malaysia. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 119, 467-475.
  31. Agamuthu P. (2017). 4th Industrial Revolution and Impact on Waste Management. Waste Management & Research, 36 (10): 997-998.
  32. Jayanthi B., Emenike C U., Agamuthu P. and Fauziah S H. (2017). Potential of Cordyline sp Plant for Remediation of Metal-leachate Contaminated Soil. Intl. J. of Chemical Engineering and Application. 8(3):199-202.
  33. Fauziah S H., Agamuthu, P. Hashim R., Izyani. And Emenike C U. (2017). Assessing the Bioaugmentation Potentials of Individual Isolates from Landfill on Metal-polluted Soil. Environmental Earth Science (2017). 76:401. DOI 10. 1007?s 12665-017-6739-x.
  34. Aziz Ahmed, and Agamuthu, P. (2017). Biodegradation of Benzo[a]pyrene by Bacterial Consortium Isolated from Mangrove Sediment. Environmental Technology. DOI.no. 10.1080/09593330.2017.1305455.
  35. Emenike C.U, Winney Liew, Fahmi M.G, Kamilah Jalil N, Agamuthu P and Fauziah S.H (2017). Optimal Removal of Heavy Metals from Leachate Contaminated Soil Using Bioaugmentation Process, Clean – Soil Air Water. CSAWAC. 45(2) 6 pages.

Achievements & Accolades

Selected Talks and Presentations: 

  1. 24 March 2022: “Embracing the Circular Economy in the 12th Malaysia Plan”, Webinar held by Economic Planning Unit (EPU) under Prime Minister’s Department in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Panelist
  2. 2 Dec 2019: “Sustainable Development Goals in Food Waste Management”, Intl Seminar on Sustainable Development Goals-The Indian Pathway, Invited Keynote Speaker.
  3. 13- 16 Nov 2019: “Marine Debris: Issues, Challenges and Initiatives”, Asia-Pacific Symposium on Energy Utilization of Municipal Solid Waste for a Sustainable Development of City, Keynote Speaker.
  4. 31 July -1 Aug 2019: “Global Perspectives on Plastics and Microplastics: Issues, Challenges and Initiatives”, WMAM Annual Conference & Gala dinner, Invited Speaker.
  5. 7- 11 July 2019: “Plastics and Microplastics: A Global Perspective”, Intl. Young scientists Symposium on Waste Management and Disposal Technology, Keynote Speaker.
  6. 19- 22 May 2019: “Ocean Plastics Management and Challenges”, ISEE 2019, Invited Plenary Speaker.
  7. 19- 22 May 2019: “Status and Issues in Transboundary Movement of Wastes in Malaysia”, ISEE2019/ Basel Forum 2019, Invited Plenary Speaker.
  8. 19- 22 May 2019: “E-waste Management and Resource Recovery Potential in Asia and the Pacific”, ISEE2019, Plenary Speaker.
  9. 16 April 2019: “The 3R Uptake by Malaysians”, Jordan Green Clean Campaign, Invited Speaker.
  10. 21- 24 Mar 2019: “Plastic Management: Issues and Challenges”, 14th ICWMT, Beijing China,
  11. 27 Feb -1 Mar 2019: “Status of Marine Plastic Debris: Issues, Challenges and Global Initiatives”, 3RINCs 2019, Bangkok, Thailand, JSMCWM, KSWM, Invited Plenary Speaker.
  12. 27 Feb -1 Mar 2019: “3R Policy Indicator and Its Future. Recapping 1St Round and Priorities For 2Nd Round”, 3RINCs 2019, Bangkok, Thailand, JSMCWM, KSWM, Invited Speaker.
  13. 27 Feb -1 Mar 2019: “Global Management of Construction and Demolition and Disaster Waste”, 3RINCs 2019, Bangkok, Thailand, JSMCWM, KSWM, Invited Plenary Speaker.

Professional Associations

  1. Associate Dean (Research), School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Sunway University
  2. Vice-President/International Advisory Board Member – Society of Solid Waste Management Experts in Asia and Pacific Islands (SWAPI)
  3. Visiting Professor, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
  4. Fellow, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
  5. Former Senior Editor in Chief, Waste Management & Research
  6. Editor, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management
  7. Editorial Board, Journal of Safety and Environment
  8. Editorial Board, Advance in Environmental Waste Management & Recycling
  9. Chairman, Organization for Climate Change (OFCC)
  10. Board member (Vice Chairman), International Consultant Committee of Waste to Energy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
  11. Steering Committee Member of Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET)
  12. Member, DeTao Masters, China
  13. Member of the Experts Working Group, Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD)